Agencies ask city to restore funds

Two Lawrence agencies faced with City Hall cuts in funding took their pleas Tuesday to the Lawrence City Commission.

Downtown Lawrence Inc. and Partnership for Children and Youth both asked commissioners to reconsider the recommended cuts.

“We have never settled into this being something we’re entitled to,” said Maria Martin, Downtown Lawrence Inc. director. “We’ve felt commissioners have granted us funding in recognition that our mission of protecting and promoting downtown is a strong one.”

Commissioners said they were open to reconsidering the recommended budgets but made no promises.

“I have a fiduciary responsibility for all the taxpayers of Lawrence,” Commissioner Boog Highberger said. “If somebody comes up to me and says, ‘What are we getting for our money?’ I want to have a good answer.”

The organizations are among two dozen “outside agencies” asking for city funding in 2005. Under the budget recommendation, 21 of them — offering a range of services, from the Lawrence Humane Society to Van Go Mobile Arts — would receive a total of $1.35 million, up from $1.28 million in 2004.

The recommendations included a reduction in aid to Downtown Lawrence, from $47,500 in 2004 to $25,000 in 2005. The subsidy for Partnership for Children and Youth — more than $72,000 in 2004 — would be eliminated entirely.

“Some of the feedback we’ve received so far is that commissioners don’t understand exactly what we do,” said Partnership’s Melissa Boisen. “Our role is frequently behind the scenes, as a coordinator and collaborator. … That doesn’t mean we’re not critical.”

Partnership officials said they helped connect Lawrence families to a range of services for children, including sports leagues and mental health support groups, and helped businesses target donations where they’re needed. Success By 6 and Big Brothers Big Sisters are two organizations that have received assistance, they said.

Mayor Mike Rundle said commissioners would take public comment throughout the process until a final budget is adopted in August.

The commission meets in a budget study session at 9 a.m. today in City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

Pay raises approved for law enforcementThe Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday approved new two-year agreements with the city’s police and firefighter unions.In addition to a 2 percent pay raise in the first year of the agreements with firefighters and police, the police pact restructures the pay scale for officers in an effort to smooth out salary inequalities with other area departments. Though not specifically spelled out in the agreements, police and firefighters would receive in 2006 at least the same cost-of-living increase as other city employees.The agreements come a year after no city employee received a cost-of-living raise.Shelter funding issuedA daytime shelter for Lawrence’s homeless residents was approved Tuesday by the Lawrence City Commission.Commissioners approved $3,000 to pay workers at the shelter, which would be open during hot summer days when homeless people have no other official place to go.Such shelters have been operated in recent years by the Coalition for Homeless Concerns, but never before with city funding.