Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	Mayor and City Commissioners
FROM:	City Manager David L. Corliss
Date:	March 1, 2012
RE:	Lawrence Community Shelter Request for Additional Funding

Both the City of Lawrence and Douglas County have received the attached letter from Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS) requesting an additional $100,000 from each government to assist in funding LCS operations.   Attached is a spreadsheet indicating a recent history of funding LCS and LCS/homeless related services.   The additional $100,000 funding is not budgeted for 2012.   If the City Commission desires to fund all or a portion of the LCS request for 2012, I would not recommend spending down the fund balance in the general fund.  Instead, I would recommend spending down the fund balance in the City’s Special Alcohol Fund.  This fund ended 2011 with an approximate fund balance of $300,000.  I would not recommend making an additional commitment beyond 2012 because we have the City’s Social Services Advisory Board which should be involved in making recommendations for social service funding for 2013.

ACTION:      Direct staff as appropriate concerning funding request from LCS.