The city of Lawrence will join a challenge to Gov. Bill Graves’ decision last week to cease “demand transfer” payments to cities and counties.

“I feel like sending a message to legislators,” Mayor Sue Hack said before Tuesday’s unanimous vote by the Lawrence City Commission.

But, she added: “I’m not convinced this will make a huge amount of difference.”

The city’s name will be added to list of plaintiffs in an action likely to be filed by the League of Kansas Municipalities and the Kansas Association of Counties. The city will not spend any money to pursue the lawsuit.

As part of $78 million in emergency budget cuts, Graves last week announced he was eliminating $48 million in payments to counties and cities from property tax reduction, city-county revenue sharing and highway funds.

Lawrence officials have estimated the cuts would cost the city more than $1.3 million in 2003.

Commissioners initially sounded skeptical of joining the challenge Tuesday.

“Is there any reasonable belief the city’s funds will be reinstated because of this action?” Commissioner David Dunfield asked.

“There’s a case to be made the squeaky wheel gets the grease … a lawsuit shows we’re serious,” Assistant City Manager David Corliss said. “It’s as much a political statement as a legal statement.”

Commissioner Jim Henry agreed.

“We’re going to have a tough time coming up with the money,” he said. “We need to take a stand.”

Commissioner Mike Rundle joined the other commissioners in approving the city’s participation in the suit. Commissioner Marty Kennedy was absent.

Corliss said the suit could be rendered moot if legislators decided to change the law granting the money to cities and counties.

“It’s important to recognize these are statutory interpretation questions,” Corliss said of the impending suit. “They can change the law, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”