2010 Legislative Policy Statement
The Lawrence City Commission desires to express its appreciation for the dedication of legislators serving Lawrence and the Douglas County community. Because we serve and share the same constituents we desire to partner with you for the betterment of our citizens and community.
This next budget and legislative year will undoubtedly prove to again be challenging to both state and local government. The City of Lawrence urges our legislators to not make cutbacks in the state budget that will require cities to pass on those cuts or look for alternative funding at the local level. Challenging economic times require even greater cooperation among levels of government to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely and resources are directed where priorities demand. A key priority for the upcoming session should be increased infrastructure spending, particularly focused on adoption of a new statewide transportation plan. This is not the time to reduce funding for this important priority.
We have prepared a list of concerns and issues impacting the City of Lawrence that are likely to be addressed during the 2010 legislative session. Many of these items are frequent annual concerns – their redundancy speaks to their continuing importance not our lack of creativity. We will be particularly concerned about unfunded mandates and attempts to erode our local authority to determine local spending and taxing priorities.
City Street improvements financed through the 12th Street and Oread Tax Increment Finance District
RESPONSES TO CURRENT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
The City encourages the Legislature to preserve funding for essential municipal services. The City urges the restoration of demand transfer payments to local governments. Revenue sharing programs between the state and municipalities are better tools for providing property tax relief than artificial remedies – like caps on local mil levy increases. The legislature should not prohibit local measures to raise revenue such as development excise taxes or the establishment of tax increment finance districts or transportation development districts. Cities need flexibility in responding to local budgetary and fiscal needs.
STATE ALCOHOL TAX FUNDS IMPORTANT TO CITY & COMMUNITY SERVICES
The City of Lawrence and many community groups rely heavily on monies received from State taxes levied on alcohol purchases. Pursuant to State law, one-third of the fund revenues are allocated to the City's General Fund, one-third to the Special Recreation Fund and one-third goes in the City’s Special Alcohol Fund. Resources in the
City of Lawrence rail-to-trail project financed with a KDOT transportation enhancement grant and City sales tax revenues.
Sales taxes are an increasingly important component of City budgets, funding essential municipal services and capital improvements which benefit our entire community. An important federal and state issue that must be addressed is the legal authority to impose state, city, and county sales taxes on electronic commerce and catalog sales. A sales tax on e-commerce and catalog sales protects an important revenue source for state and local governments and puts traditional land based businesses in our communities on an equal taxation footing with their electronic competitors. The Kansas Legislature should continue to pursue the “Stream-lined Sales Tax” efforts and other opportunities to include Internet and catalog sales tax collection.
LOCAL TAXING & SPENDING DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE BY LOCALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
The Lawrence City Commission strongly opposes the enactment of State imposed spending or taxation controls or lids. The so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) proposals create an arbitrary and capricious procedure for what should be an essential function of representative democracy: elected officials determining the appropriate spending and taxing policies of their community. Local tax and spending decisions should be made by locally elected officials – not by artificial limits in the state statutes or constitution. The City desires to partner with the Legislature to find solutions which will ease the hardship of property tax burdens on low income, elderly homeowners while maintaining adequate funding sources for City services.
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO ENACT EXCISE TAXES
The City of Lawrence supports the enactment of legislation to allow all Kansas cities the ability to enact development excise taxes. In 2006 the Legislature adopted legislation which allows certain cities to maintain existing excise taxes – but not cities such as Lawrence. This places cities such as Lawrence at a competitive disadvantage – essentially penalizing Lawrence taxpayers who must pay more for infrastructure than residents of cities with excise taxes. This is fundamentally unfair and the Legislature should enact legislation allowing all cities this financing option.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION
Lawrence must be able to regulate utilities that use public right of way.
Lawrence's ability to franchise utility companies and regulate its public rights-of-way must not be compromised. Private companies which use a public asset – such as locally owned right-of-way – should continue to be required to collect franchise fees. These utilities should also continue to be required to relocate in the right-of-way for public projects at their own expense – and not at the expense of local taxpayers.
The City of Lawrence recommends revision of the formula used to allocate federal funds to municipal transit providers. The current system is inequitable in its allocation methodology.
TOURISM
The City of Lawrence offers many destination places for travel and entertainment. The City encourages the State of Kansas to enact a comprehensive tourism plan and to increase state funding of tourism promotion and marketing.
KPERS AND KP&F – COMMITMENTS to OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS
KPERS and KP&F are very important benefits for the individuals who have chosen public service in the State of Kansas, including City of Lawrence employees. We do all Kansans a disservice by ignoring current and future funding obligations for this vital benefit system. Any proposals to change KPERS and KP&F should encourage – not discourage – public service.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING & FUNDING
We support the current State highway program and the necessary funding to achieve the goals of the program. We support efforts to renew the State of Kansas Comprehensive Transportation Program beyond 2010 and provide additional resources for our transportation needs, including streets, transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and airport improvements.
HOMELAND SECURITY
The City of Lawrence urges an active partnership between state and local governments regarding issues of homeland security. The City’s police department and our City/County fire and medical department are essential resources in providing security and safety to our community. These departments rely on funding resources that should be protected by our State legislature.
STATE LIMITS ON ANNEXATION POWERS
In the 2009 session, legislation was again introduced that would have severely limited the authority of the City to annex new property. The City of Lawrence opposes efforts to limit the ability of cities to annex. We oppose changes to the current state annexation statutes. Annexation provides a key tool for municipalities’ ability to manage and plan for growth.
HOUSING TRUST FUND SUPPORT
The City urges the Legislature to favorably consider funding options for local housing trust funds, including the ability to locally increase mortgage registration fees to provide a revenue source to fund city sponsored housing trust funds enhancing housing opportunities for residents
UNFUNDATED MANDATES
The City of Lawrence opposes unfunded mandates from the State of Kansas as they drain limited resources from needed City programs and activities. State legislators know how federal mandates hamper the State's ability to respond to problems and issues, similarly the State should not impose unfunded mandates on local units of government. The City supports state and federal financial assistance for mandated public works improvements, such as the current levee recertification requirements.
RESPONDING TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
We continue to support State efforts to encourage resource conservation and recycling. The City also encourages the legislature to adopt measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt measures to encourage energy conservation and use of public transportation. Incentives should be created for the use of alternative fuels and transportation, retrofitting of existing structures for energy efficient technology, and increased use of solar, wind and other environmentally friendly energy resources.
ENSURING ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES FOR OUR FUTURE
Clinton Reservoir is vital to Lawrence’s water supply.
Maintenance of the Bowersock Dam on the Kansas River is also key to Lawrence’s water supply.
Because a good water supply is essential to the welfare and growth of the Lawrence community, the City Commission has taken steps to assure continued quality water resources. The City opposes federal and state regulatory changes to quality standards that are not demonstrably related to public health unless adequate state and federal financial assistance is provided to meet such new treatment requirements. We oppose water transfers that will negatively affect Lawrence’s current and future water supplies.
The City of Lawrence supports continued study and implementation of appropriate plans to respond to the sedimentation issues of Kansas Reservoirs. Clinton Reservoir is a vital water supply source for the Lawrence community. The City of Lawrence supports increases in the municipal water fees funding the State Water Plan if such increases fund water project beneficial to preserving the quantity and quality of or vital water resources. Municipal water fees should only increase in proportion to increases on other water plan fees for industrial and agricultural users.
| Commissioners | CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE |
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Rob Chestnut, Mayor |
David L. Corliss, City Manager |
Mike Amyx, Vice-Mayor |
Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager |
Aron Cromwell, Commissioner
|
Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager |
Michael Dever, Commissioner |
GENERAL INFORMATION |
Lance Johnson, Commissioner |
City of Lawrence |
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The City of Lawrence is committed to providing excellent city services that enhance the quality of life for the Lawrence community.
