Lawrence residents could soon go online to pay their utility bills, enroll in city recreation programs and more.

“Our citizens could conduct business from home or their business without having to come down to City Hall,” Ron Hall, the city’s information services director, said Tuesday as he asked city commissioners to expand “e-government” offerings by the city.

Commissioner Mike Rundle said doing so would require a change in mindset for city officials and the public.

But Rundle said the proposals had merit, “especially where you can demonstrate cost savings and helping staff with workload.”

Overall, Hall asked for a $854,541 budget in 2003, up from $825,375. Most of the increase is for employee salaries in his nine-person department.

Spurred by the results of a survey sent out in water bills earlier this year, Hall also suggested adding a number of online services:

 Utility billing, a feature officials say was a popular request in the survey.

“In Lawrence, you’ve got a lot of people who commute to work, and our 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours are tough for them,” Finance Director Ed Mullins said. “I think it’s important we open our (virtual) doors on a 24-7 basis.”

The first-year cost of the program would be $33,005, $3,450 a year afterward. Hall said the city might save more than $4,000 a year with the program.

 “Paperless” agendas for the city commission. The agenda is already put on the city’s Web site every week. But residents generally don’t see the maps, memorandums and other supporting material that commissioners wade through in making their decisions.

“Citizens would certainly benefit if they had Web access to all that information,” Assistant City Manager Dave Corliss said. “They could watch the (commission) meeting on TV and scroll down through the supporting materials at the same time.”

Cost: $52,000 the first year and $10,000 annually thereafter.

 Maps to help residents see zoning, streets and other city information on specific parts of town. The first-year cost would range from $10,000 to $75,000, depending on whether the city contracts with an outside agency to do the work.

 Building permit and inspection status updates. Cost would be $25,940 the first year.

 City job applications. The first-year cost would be $12,300; $1,000 a year afterward.

 Recreation class enrollment, with a $23,540 first-year cost. The city would pay roughly $1,600 a year afterward.

Startup costs are more than continuing expenses because of the need to buy equipment and software in the first year.

Mayor Sue Hack said she would look favorably upon Hall’s requests.

“These kinds of requests they’re making,” she said, “lend to the efficiency of city government.”

Commissioners reconvene for the third and final day of budget hearings at 1 p.m. today.