Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

Growth may pose some challenges to a community, but it’s almost always preferable to the alternative.

That’s why it’s good news that, according to new population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, Lawrence is growing more than most other Kansas cities. From 2014 to 2015, Lawrence recorded an increase of 1,250 people or about 1.3 percent. Only Lenexa, in fast-growing Johnson County, had a higher one-year growth rate, coming in a 2.8 percent.

Lawrence also is looking good when it comes to longer-term growth. The city, which now has a population of 93,917, has grown by 7.1 percent since the 2010 census. That put Lawrence in fourth place behind Lenexa (8.9 percent), Overland Park (7.5 percent) and Manhattan (7.7 percent). Of particular note in the latest census figures was a population decline in Topeka. The drop was only 0.1 percent, but any decline in population raises some red flags for a community. Any weakness in Topeka’s economy also could affect Lawrence because of the large number of people who live in Lawrence and have jobs in Topeka.

That circumstance also raises another issue for Lawrence. It’s great to have population growth, but if growth in the number of residents in the city isn’t accompanied by growth in business and the non-residential tax base, Lawrence could increase its already-heavy dependence on residential property taxes to support city services. Providing homes for people who work in Topeka or greater Kansas City will feed Lawrence’s population figures, but business development is needed to provide more local employment and broaden the local tax base.

This isn’t news to local leaders. However, it’s something that Lawrence city commissioners should keep in mind as they consider revisions to the city’s policies on economic development tax incentives. Some changes may be needed, but Lawrence must make sure its incentive policies are flexible and competitive enough to keep the city in the running for desirable projects.

How and where growth should occur in Lawrence is a subject of ongoing debate, but the bottom line is that growth is good for a community. We’d much rather deal with the challenges of growth than to face the problems that come with a population decline.