Annual Budget Process
The City Commission adopted the Strategic Plan in October 2020. The Strategic Plan outlines a systematic process for moving toward a vision in a manner that involves the development and prioritization of strategic goals along with measurable strategies.
- The Strategic Plan drives the Annual Operating Budget.
- The Annual Operating Budget moderates the Strategic Plan.
- The Annual Operating Budget also enables the City to operate Strategic Management.
For additional information on the strategic plan, please visit www.lawrenceks.org/strategic-plan.
Priority-Based Budgeting (PBB)
The City uses Priority Based Budgeting as part of the annual budget process to evaluate and connect government resources with the community’s highest priorities using program data.
Budget Process
City staff begins budget preparation in early February. In June, staff will present the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan to City Commission. In July, the City Manager will present the 2025 recommended budget to the City Commission. Throughout this process, feedback will be collected and adjustments will be made as necessary. The City will host a budget hearing at the August 20 City Commission meeting, and the budget adoption will occur on September 10.
For more information on the Capital Improvement Plan, please visit https://lawrenceks.org/budget/cip/.
Get Involved
The City budget affects our entire community – every single person – which is why it’s important to our organization that we’re hearing from Lawrence residents about what you prioritize. We take all of this input and figure out how best to create a single budget that best fits the needs of our entire community and moves forward the goals we’ve identified in our strategic plan.
There are a number of different opportunities to provide feedback on the City budget. We are once again offering A Balancing Act as an interactive online simulation that offers community members a chance to build a balanced budget. A Balancing Act will be live and available for the community to use from May 1-31, 2024.
After May, we’ll have two in-person engagement sessions for community members to walk through the results of A Balancing Act with our team. More information on the community sessions will be provided in May. Finally, any member of the public may provide comment regarding the budget at City Commission meetings through public comment and/or as written comments submitted through our regular agenda process.
2025 Budget Meetings and Materials
- June 18: City Manager’s Recommended 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan Presentation
- July 9: City Manager’s Recommended Budget Presentation
- August 20: Budget Public Hearing and Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing
- September 10: Budget Adoption
Budget Archives
Questions about past funding or budgets? View budget archives.