A group of Lawrence  residents have drafted a letter to Mayor Deborah Whitfield concerning the upcoming budget, which it says will raise taxes and the Mayor’s office budget by 90 percent.

They outlined six of the following concerns…

  1. Lack of Transparency and Accountability: The administration has consistently failed to provide clear financial reports and last-minute public hearings have suppressed meaningful community engagement. Residents are not given the opportunity to engage in decisions impacting their tax dollars.
  2. Nearly 90% Increase in the Mayor’s Budget: The proposed budget includes a staggering and unjustified 90% increase in the Mayor’s budget, including unexplained increases in salaries, consulting fees, and travel expenses.
  3. Public Safety Gimmicks: The proposed budget severely underfunds essential public safety services. This includes cuts to fuel for emergency vehicles, overtime for firefighters, and the elimination of funding for police body cameras—placing our community at risk.
  4. Irresponsible Approach to Infrastructure: Despite a significant cash balance, the city’s investment in roads and infrastructure is at its lowest in eight years, and no budget has been allocated for transportation bonds maturing in 2025.
  5. Unjustified 15.3% Tax Rate Increase: The proposed tax rate increase from 0.6988 to 0.8058 will impose an unfair financial burden on residents and businesses, particularly given the administration’s wasteful spending.
  6. Irresponsible Budgeting: The 2025 budget reflects a broader pattern of irresponsible financial management, with unbalanced internal service funds, unfunded debt obligations, and cuts to essential services like EMS and fire.

“We believe that public officials should be held accountable for the reckless use of public funds, and it may be necessary to reevaluate their compensation if these wasteful practices continue. Without a detailed disclosure of expenditures, taxpayers cannot be expected to trust the current administration’s management of public funds.” the letter also stated.