Douglas County Commissioner Jere McElhaney said he didn’t have anything against after-school programs.

But he doesn’t want county taxpayers footing the bill for the programs, if grant money for their operations dries up anytime soon.

“I don’t want to be a safety net,” McElhaney said Wednesday during a joint meeting of the Lawrence City Commission, Douglas County Commission and Lawrence school board.

The programs, which operate at 12 Lawrence elementary schools, served about 100 children last year at each site. They are part of a collaborative effort by the school district, the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence and the After School Alliance, which is made up of school and community leaders.

Sandee Crowther, executive director of planning and program improvement for the school district, cautioned the officials that other new funding sources are needed to ensure the programs’ future.

Leni Salkind, school board president, said no group would be asked to be a safety net. The question for city, county and school officials, she said, would center on what different groups could do to help sustain the after-school programs.

“Clearly, there is a need for a regular stream of funding,” said City Commissioner David Schauner.

While no commitment for funding was sought Wednesday, the three governmental bodies will take a more detailed look at the dollars involved in the program at their next joint meeting, which will be at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 6.

In other news from the meeting, officials discussed:

Joint meeting discusses afterschool programs

• The possibility of the city and county agreeing to jointly run a recreation program at Lone Star Lake, which is southwest of Lawrence. County officials said private companies have had trouble sustaining services there.

City Commissioner David Dunfield said he didn’t see a benefit in the city taking over services at the lake.

Charles Jones, County Commission chairman, said he thought it would make sense for the city and county to discuss and consider consolidating city and county parks and recreation.

“The question is if we want to think about it now or later,” Jones said.

• Any bond issues that may be on upcoming election ballots. Lawrence Supt. Randy Weseman said Lawrence district patrons could expect a school bond issue being on a ballot before April 2005.

He said the proposed bond issue likely would focus on upgrading and adding onto secondary schools but be considerably less than the failed $59 million bond issue in April 2003.

“This doesn’t address future growth, but immediate needs,” Weseman said.

County and city officials said they might have bond issues requiring a vote, though not in the immediate future.