Budget hearing set

Next year’s county budget calls for spending $45.5 million, while the county’s property tax rate is slated to rise by 7.2 percent.

Those are the big numbers in the county’s 2004 operating budget, as formally endorsed Wednesday by all three county commissioners. They agreed to publish the budget numbers in preparation for an Aug. 13 public hearing, a legal requirement before the budget plan can be adopted and become final.

Vicious dogs outlawed

A resolution outlawing vicious dogs won approval Wednesday from Douglas County commissioners, who now will take their case to officials in Lawrence and other area towns for endorsement.

The plan, developed by Commissioner Charles Jones, addresses vicious dogs in unincorporated areas of the county. Owners of such dogs could face mandatory fines of $500 to $1,000, and jail sentences of 30 days to six months.

Organizations thanked for tornado cleanup help

Douglas County commissioners thanked representatives from organizations whose members provided volunteer help in the aftermath of a May 8 tornado that ripped into southwest Lawrence and caused $6.4 million in damage.

During Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners publicly thanked the following groups for their assistance: Skywarn, Douglas County Amateur Radio Club, Douglas County Disaster Mental Health Team, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Roger Hill Volunteer Center, Westlake Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart and Home Depot.