News that Kansas is one of the nation’s slowest growing states probably is being met with cheers and shouts of joy by those who oppose growth and contend it is bad for the environment and quality of life.

A recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau places Kansas as the 42nd fastest growing state in the nation. Only eight states are growing at a slower pace.

Some will look at this as good news, but, as Genna Hurd, co-director of the Kansas Center for Community Economic Development at Kansas University, said, “without population growth, communities face a tightening labor market, lack of new customers for businesses, a shrinking tax base and an overall decline in economic activity.”

For a number of years, some Lawrence residents have called for a no-growth policy. They don’t want to see the city grow, and they favor measures that make it difficult for an entrepreneur to come to Lawrence to start a business. In fact, Lawrence is known throughout the state, as well as the nation, as one of the most difficult cities in which to build a business. Many claim there is a negative attitude in city hall related to growth.

Some applaud, but in the long run, other cities and states are passing Kansas and Lawrence as an attractive place to live, work and raise a family. If Lawrence and Kansas residents want better public services, paid for by taxes, growth is imperative. If they want better schools and higher teacher salaries, growth is imperative. New taxes are needed to pay for the growing demand for more publicly financed services.

There is likely to be an ugly showdown in the Kansas Legislature next year with those who have signed the Taxpayer Bill of Rights to try to stop all tax increases. If they are successful, who is expected to pay the state’s bills?

What does it say about the attractiveness of Kansas when figures show more people moved out of the state than moved in? Seventy-seven of the state’s 105 counties lost population last year.

Lawrence cannot be so complacent about its growth policies and assume good times are guaranteed.

The growth that has taken place has done so in spite of the city’s development policies rather than because of any welcoming, accommodating atmosphere in city hall.

Hopefully, the discouraging population figures released last week will cause some in city hall and throughout the community to recognize the dangers of trying to stunt or discourage growth.