City Hall recommending layoffs, facility closings in response to budget crisis

City Hall leaders are recommending layoffs and the closure of some city facilities to deal with expected state funding cuts that could begin this summer.

“We have to recognize the state’s budget cuts would reduce some of the services we can provide to Lawrence residents,” City Manager David Corliss said in announcing his recommendations late Friday afternoon.

Among the cuts that will be presented to city commissioners on Tuesday for discussion:

• Closure of the city’s Prairie Park Nature Center, plus the elimination of most weekend hours for all of the city’s community centers. City swimming pools would also close at 7 p.m. The cuts would lead to an undetermined number of layoffs of part-time employees.

• Layoffs of three full-time employees in the city’s Human Relations division, which investigates complaints of discrimination in the city. Those duties would be shifted to existing city staff attorneys.

• Defunding of the city’s school crossing guard program. Corliss hopes the school district will take over the $50,000 cost to keep the program going.

• A 50 percent reduction in funding to all social service agencies that receive money from the city’s Special Alcohol fund.

The cuts are based on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed state budget, which likely would reduce state funding to the city by about $1.1 million in 2009.

Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.