Changes to how the city funds social service agencies may be needed as state and federal dollars are expected to dwindle, several candidates for the Lawrence City Commission said at a Monday afternoon forum.

Some candidates said the city may need to adopt more specific goals that will guide the commission in deciding which agencies get funding in the future.

“I think we really need to talk about having a selection process that is aligned more with a vision of what we are trying to accomplish,” said candidate Hugh Carter.

At a roundtable discussion of social service providers Monday, Carter raised the question most often about whether the current system was working the way it was intended. He said the city should have discussions about whether it wants city funds to primarily go towards safety-net types of services or whether it wanted to fund more services designed to keep people out of poverty.

Several other candidates also said they expected the subject to be a big issue as federal stimulus dollars become more scarce and the state deals with a large budget gap.

“It looks to me like the state is going to try to wriggle out of a lot of responsibilities,” City Commission candidate Bob Schumm said. “We need to be prepared for that.”

Candidate Mike Machell said that it would be important for the city to communicate regularly with social service providers and for the City Commission to understand how the various service providers complement each other.

“We can’t be thinking in silos on this issue,” Machell said. “We have to think pretty broadly.”

Candidate Sven Alstrom said the city also will need to become more proactive in trying to forge alliances with other communities and organizations that stand to lose out if social service funding is cut at the state level. Specifically, he said the city needs to work closer with Manhattan, Kansas State and the Kansas University Medical Center on the issue.

“We need to try to reach outside of Lawrence to exert some influence,” Alstrom said.

But all five candidates said they agreed that social service funding deserved a place in the city’s budget. City Commissioner Mike Dever, the lone incumbent seeking re-election, said the city has a role to play because he’s not convinced economic prosperity always trickles down to people in need.

“It is something we always have to consider because how we treat the least of us is important,” Dever said.

About 10 social service agencies participated in the informal roundtable event, which was hosted by the United Way of Douglas County.

The five candidates are vying for three spots on the City Commission. The election will be April 5.