Commission approves tax incentives for West Lawrence affordable housing in split vote

City consents to transfer of Hamm Landfill to Republic Services

Commissioners debate approach to homeless services coordination

Commission targets late May for city manager finalist interviews

Participation in senior swim program drops following fee implementation

Commission approves accounting waiver in split vote

County reports $1.86 million revenue surplus for 2025

County retains $25.7 million fund balance for stability

Commission authorizes $20 million transfer to reduce debt

Fire and Medical budget adjusted following $2.9 million variance

County launches in-house budget transparency tool

Commissioners debate contract consistency and briefing equity

Commission approves tax incentives for West Lawrence affordable housing in split vote

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The city commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to authorize industrial revenue bonds for the Floret Hill affordable housing development, a project promising 121 units near Bob Billings Parkway and Kansas Highway 10. The approval grants a sales tax exemption on construction materials and a 10-year, 100 percent property tax abatement for the development partners, Wheatland Investments Group and Tenants to Homeowners, who committed to a 99-year affordability period. Commissioner Mike Courtney voted against the measure, arguing that the total incentive package—which includes a future request for $1.3 million to construct a road and other site preparations totaling nearly $2.8 million—was too high compared to the immediate request.

City consents to transfer of Hamm Landfill to Republic Services

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Commissioners voted unanimously to consent to the sale of the Hamm Landfill and Material Recovery Facility to Republic Services after staff assured the body that the city's current contract protections would remain in place. Mike Lawless, deputy director for municipal services, told the commission that the transfer would not alter the city's 3.5 percent annual cap on rate increases. While public commenters expressed concern regarding potential monopolistic price hikes by Republic Services, city staff noted that the contract prohibits the city from unreasonably withholding consent and that alternative disposal options in Johnson or Shawnee counties would be cost-prohibitive.

Commissioners debate approach to homeless services coordination

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Commissioners requested a work session to bring together agencies such as the Lawrence Community Shelter and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center to address conflicting reports regarding service delivery for the unhoused population. The body expressed differing views on how to proceed; some members voiced frustration with receiving "piecemeal" information, while others cautioned against compelling outside agencies not fully funded by the city to appear for questioning. Ultimately, the commission agreed to begin with a status update from city staff and funded partners to clarify the effectiveness of the current $4.5 million investment in homeless services.

Commission targets late May for city manager finalist interviews

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Mayor Brad Finkeldei announced an updated timeline for the city manager search, stating that the commission aims to interview finalists by the last week of May or the first week of June. Doug Thomas, of Strategic Government Resources, the city's recruitment consultant, recently gathered input from staff and commissioners to create an employment brochure for the position, which Finkeldei noted should be advertised within the next three weeks. The commission hopes to conclude the hiring process before World Cup events begin in the region later this summer.

Participation in senior swim program drops following fee implementation

LAWRENCE, Kan. - A city manager's report revealed a roughly 50 percent decline in participation in the city's Senior Swim Days session following the implementation of new fees, generating only about $600 in revenue for January. Commissioner Amber Sellers highlighted that attendance dropped from an average of 60 participants to 30, arguing that the fees disproportionately affect vulnerable seniors who rely on the warm water pool for health. Sellers criticized the barrier to access, contrasting the previous universal eligibility of 13,000 residents with the handful of seniors now utilizing the paid service.

Commission approves accounting waiver in split vote

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The Board of Douglas County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve Resolution 26-04, which waives the requirement for the county to use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for fiscal year 2026. Commissioner Gene Dorsey cast the lone dissenting vote, citing a lack of conviction that the current cash-basis method provides adequate transparency. During public comment, residents, including members of the Douglas County Taxpayers Association, argued that the current method allows the county to manage finances "like a checkbook" rather than providing a complete picture of long-term assets and liabilities. County staff noted that switching to GAAP would require significant time, additional staffing and increased taxpayer costs to implement.

County reports $1.86 million revenue surplus for 2025

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Douglas County ended fiscal year 2025 with a revenue surplus of $1.86 million, driven largely by investment income that exceeded projections by $1.44 million. Sales tax collections also contributed to the surplus, coming in $617,000 higher than expected. Staff noted that while investment income rates have begun to stabilize, the county benefited from locking in higher interest rates on certificates of deposit earlier in the year.

County retains $25.7 million fund balance for stability

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Unlike previous years where surplus funds were often spent down, the county is shifting strategy to retain a robust general fund balance, projected to end 2026 at approximately $25.7 million. Commissioners supported the move, citing economic uncertainty and the potential for federal political shifts as reasons to maintain a financial buffer. The funds are intended to serve as a safeguard against emergencies or economic downturns without necessitating immediate tax increases.

Commission authorizes $20 million transfer to reduce debt

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Commissioners unanimously authorized a transfer of $20 million from the debt service fund to the Capital Improvement Plan fund to offset costs associated with the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center renovation and the new Public Safety Building. In 2025 alone, the county spent nearly $46 million on capital improvements, four times higher than previous years. Staff described the transfer as a strategic move to reduce long-term debt and strengthen the county's financial position as construction projects continue.

Fire and Medical budget adjusted following $2.9 million variance

LAWRENCE, Kan. - County staff reported a $2.9 million expenditure variance in the 2025 budget related to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical services. The variance was attributed to changes in billing structures and how revenues are netted against expenditures, resulting in lower-than-anticipated net costs. To address the discrepancy and align with actual expenditure trends, the county has reduced the Fire Medical budget for 2026 from $10.45 million to $8.75 million.

County launches in-house budget transparency tool

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The commission received a presentation on Open Budget Douglas County, a new, internally developed online budget reporting tool that replaces the previously used third-party platform, Socrata. The new application, developed by the county's IT department, provides real-time data through a direct connection to the finance system and is expected to save the county approximately $18,000 annually in software fees. The tool, which allows residents to visualize revenues, expenses and historical data, is now live on the county website.

Commissioners debate contract consistency and briefing equity

LAWRENCE, Kan. - A discussion regarding community partner contracts evolved into a debate among commissioners about transparency and staff briefings. Concerns were raised that commissioners receive disparate levels of information from staff regarding contract negotiations, specifically citing a modification made to a capital agreement for a community housing partner that was not universally briefed. County Administrator Sarah Plinsky defended the staff's process, stating that while terms and conditions remain standard, individual scopes of work must be negotiated, and denied any intentional bias in how commissioners are informed.

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