To the editor:

The concern about the behind-closed-doors tax rebate is not just that it happened behind closed doors but that once the new policy is enacted it will become an accepted policy and therefore other businesses will insist on a tax rebate.

Our City Commission has over the past years ignored our codes and policies because a precedent or “a history” has been allowed and so we must be fair to all other businesses. There are other developments that are presently considering asking for tax abatement and would now have the right to a behind-the-closed-door tax rebate without public review and going through the approved process.

Our City Commission was trying very hard to bring to Lawrence a good job paying business and I commend them for it, but somewhere along the way, the City Commission was pushed by Deciphera’s timetable. However, the City Commission has the opportunity to now correct this obvious faux pas and discuss the tax rebate in a transparent and open public discussion and revoke the tax rebate until a proper process for such a policy is approved through the correct channels.

I hope that we do not lose Deciphera’s business, but I hope they understand that a new tax rebate born under such circumstances is not acceptable to the people of Lawrence, Kan.

Gwen Klingenberg,

Lawrence