Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus has proposed a reasonable budget for city commissioners to consider.

Still, commissioners should be prepared to look for even more spending cuts than Markus has proposed to reduce the impact on residents of a budget that is likely to require tax and utility rate increases.

Markus is recommending a 2018 budget that would eliminate 11 city positions and require a 1.25-mill property tax increase. The property tax increase primarily would be used to pay for the first phase of an expanded police facility. The budget also recommends an increase in utility bills of about $60 per year per household.

Overall, Markus is recommending a $415,000 increase in spending. Most of the increase in spending will be used for salary increases for eligible employees, the addition of an administrative position to pursue body camera equipment for the Lawrence Police Department and the addition of a municipal court security guard.

City staff said the 2018 budget recommendation is in line with City Commission priorities outlined in its strategic plan. They also said that while city revenues are increasing, the growth isn’t enough to offset the increases

Only one of the 11 positions Markus has proposed eliminating — the city auditor — is filled. The remaining positions are vacant — one code enforcement position, two solid waste loader positions, one administrative support position, one communication manager position, three utility meter reader positions, one assistant golf pro position and an administrator at Sports Pavilion Lawrence.

As Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay noted, salary and benefits make up 40 percent of the city’s annual budget so it makes sense to eliminate vacant positions. But before the City Commission signs off on a tax increase, commissioners should review staffing to see if more cuts are warranted whether or not the positions are filled.

The presentation of the recommended budget to commissioners at a work session Tuesday is simply the first step in crafting the 2018 city budget. The budget isn’t expected to be adopted until August or September.

Markus’ recommended budget sounds like a good start. But before committing to a spending increase of nearly a half million dollars as well as property tax and utility rate increases, city commissioners owe it to residents to review the proposed budget carefully for staff and other spending cuts.