The longstanding issue of getting around town took center stage at a public forum on the 2016 Lawrence city budget Thursday.

The issues of street maintenance and public transportation were the top vote winners in a city-sponsored exercise where residents gathered and picked city services that deserved a higher priority in the city’s budget.

“Public transportation is one of the best investments a community can make for people who are low-income,” said Charlie Bryan, a Lawrence resident who was among about 20 people who gathered at Fire Station No 5 to participate in the forum. “It is easy to forget, but a lot of people can’t afford a car.”

Residents said additional funding could be used to increase the frequency of transit service and the number of routes available. A suggestion was even made that additional funding might allow the city to eliminate the $1 fare it currently charges for a one-way ride. The city currently collects a little more than $300,000 in fares, which amounts to less than 10 percent of the system’s operating revenue. Removing the fare may spur more ridership, some audience members said.

Public transit tied with street maintenance with 14 votes apiece for city services that deserve higher priority in the city’s budget. Others in the top five were: social services, 13 votes; planning and zoning, 11 votes; and the police department, nine votes.

This was the second public forum on the 2016 budget, which will be crafted by commissioners this summer. At an event held in North Lawrence earlier this month, public transit, social service and police made the top five as well.

Residents also were asked to rank which city services should be de-emphasized in the city budget. As was the case in North Lawrence, tourism took the top spot with eight votes. Several residents said they thought Kansas University was a natural magnet to attract visitor spending, so they were uncertain how much the city ought to be spending on promoting the tourism industry.

“We’re going to get the guest tax money either way,” said Rich Minder, a Lawrence resident. “Let’s spend it on something else.”

The city charges a 6 percent transient guest tax on hotel rooms in the city and uses much of that $1 million collected through the tax to fund tourism-related activities. The idea of using that money to partially offset some other city expenses was mentioned by City Commissioner Stuart Boley. He said the city may want to consider using some of that money to pay for expenses that are being generated at Sports Pavilion Lawrence, the new recreation center/fieldhouse that was designed, in part, to attract more tournaments and events to the city.

The idea of raising the transient guest tax also was brought up. Commissioner Matthew Herbert said he thought the 6 percent guest tax rate was fairly low. He said a rate of 8 percent to 9 percent seemed more common in many cities.

Mayor Jeremy Farmer said he noted that at the two exercises residents far more often cast votes that the city budget should increase the priority of city services. He said that’s a sign that residents have high expectations for city services.

Herbert, though, noted that the exercise did not do anything to measure whether residents were willing to pay more in taxes to increase the funding for certain city services.

“If we would have asked that question, we might have seen a disconnect,” Herbert said.

Commissioners will have a study Tuesday afternoon to discuss budget issues. The commission will work throughout the summer to craft a 2016 budget, with final approval expected in early August.