Thread by @Lisa_Larsen

@LawrenceArtsCtr
There have been significant comments/emails regarding the budget proposal put together by Comm. Boley and I. It is always good to get community engagement on issues. This is one true strength of Lawrence. One thing that I would like everybody to remember 1/20

is that this is just a proposal, it will be up to the full commission to determine if we want to proceed with the modifications or implement other ideas. We are continuing to evaluate the budget and still reviewing the prospect of other options.

Below is background info 2/20

that we considered when reviewing the budget.

The proposed 2020 City Mgr’s budget included covering a $500K deficit in the Parks/Rec fund and $500K deficit in the General Fund. If implemented, it would require that we start charging an entry fee to our Rec facilities and 3/20

close the Community Bldg to open play. It would also require increasing the prop. tax mill levy 0.50. Comm. Boley and I were given the primary task by our fellow Commissioners to find ways to eliminate the need to raise our property taxes and to address the Park/Rec funding. 4/20

We did this by studying the budget, speaking to community orgs. that rely on funding, and working with staff. All conversations were prefaced with the understanding that the final decision would be up to the full Commission. This budget proposal accomplishes both goals set 5/20

forth by the commission – no prop. tax mill levy increase, and Parks/Rec would be status quo for a yr. Contrary to what is being said on social media, this is all within the budget process. Anybody (incl. community members) can recommend changes to the budget. Even if the 6/20

Commission didn’t provide direction, it would be appropriate for any Commissioner to review this budget to find ways to make it more efficient. That is our job. You cannot find solutions if you don't do your homework & research the problem. 7/20

The funding that the @LawrenceArtsCtr (LAC) receives comes from the Parks & Rec Special Rec Fund. This fund has been supporting the art scholarship program for several years. Given the dire situation within Parks & Rec, it was our belief that we needed to pull back the 8/20

Parks & Rec Special Rec Fund monies that were being spent outside of Parks & Rec so we could keep the Community bldg open and hold off charging fees at Park bldgs for at least the next year. It has been strongly expressed by many residents to keep the Community bldg open and 9/20

to re-evaluate the fee charges. During this next year, the Parks & Rec board along with staff will engage with the community to discuss the most equitable way to address the proposed facility fees and the use of the Community bldg. 10/20

The City provides significant funding to the @LawrenceArtsCtr every year by way of maintaining the LAC building. We do not charge the LAC city utilities and we do all the repair on the building structure such as the roof, heating/air systems etc... We also just voted to 11/20

allow LAC to receive significant tax incentives to purchase the former Salvation Army bldg. This type of support allows the LAC to use money for art programs that would otherwise not be available.

The City also provides significant funding for arts thru-out our community. 12/20

All capital projects include a dedication of 2% for art. A good example is the new @LawrenceKS_PD facility that is being built near Free State HS. We have included $380,000 for art in this project. Our 2019 budget also includes an additional $82K for art projects. We also 13/20

provide ~$50K every year to fund the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission and $120K every year to fund the TGT Grant program that provides grants to community events that are related to arts and culture.

As indicated by our recent budget history, we are committed to funding 14/20

art and culture in Lawrence. There will always be room for debate as to how much funding is appropriate. We must balance that with other needs in our community such as public safety, roads, funding parks/rec, providing clean water, and adequate sanitary/storm water systems 15/20

Trying to find ways to balance the budget & address the Parks/Rec situation this budget yr has been a brutal process with many very difficult decisions!

One option that I am considering (that hasn’t been included in the proposal) for continuing to provide funding for art 16/20

scholarships in our community is to use some of the fund balance in the Special Recreation Fund. A fund balance acts somewhat like a savings account. Our initial hesitation in using the fund balance was due to the amount of fund balance draw down that we had to do for the 17/20

Recreation Fund (this is a separate funding source). We must be cautious to not have both Park/Rec main funding sources balances drop too low. If we were to use fund balance, it would be on a one-time basis until we evaluate the entire Parks/Rec funding shortfalls and other 18/20

funding options as we gauge our revenues over the next yr. Again, these are my thoughts only, so keep in mind all options would need to be vetted through the Commission – which will be done tonight at the Commission mtg. I encourage all to attend or watch on our live video. 19/20

There are many other nuances to our budget proposal. I would appreciate the opportunity to sit down and further discuss them with anybody.

Let me know if you are interested.

Lisa Larsen, Mayor 20/20