Poll: If a budget cut had to be made in Lawrence city government, what cut would you make first? / LJWorld.com

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Response		Percent	Votes
Cut city recreation programs.		43%	439
Reduce pay for city employees.		28%	291
Cut city employees.		16%	165
Cut city services.		12%	125
Total	1020

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tennesseerader (anonymous) says…

When I was in Lawrence I saw a lot of wasteful extravagances. The roundabouts with all their decorative splendor should never have been built. The trees downtown that can only grow for a few years before they crack and destroy the expensive sidewalks and curbs. The ridiculous so called art work that looks like something out of a junk yard. Maybe if you had saved the money from this stuff you wouldn't be short of money now.
February 3, 2009 at 7:19 a.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

I didn't see a "Cut corporate welfare" option, so I didn't vote.
February 3, 2009 at 7:38 a.m.
yoornotmee (anonymous) says…

I agree about the roundabouts with excessive landscaping. I can't even see around some of them! Their landscaping is a safety hazard!
February 3, 2009 at 7:49 a.m.
Juergan (Juergan Mader) says…

Agreed Tennesseerader, I see a lot of waste in things in Lawrence, namely the things you mentioned. The "art" in the downtown area? Well, I have a lot of things I could put together out of my workshop that would do just fine for future artwork, who would know the difference? The new round-a-bouts that the city thought would help the flow of traffic are nothing shy of ridiculous. They look nice, but necessary? I think not. The issue however is not money already wasted, rather teach the commissioners where the proper corners are that need to be cut. The commissioners seem to only know how to spend more rather than save. Crossing guards are a must have, as well as The Nature Center. How about we "Sell the artwork" downtown to help fund those things?
February 3, 2009 at 8:04 a.m.
beawolf (anonymous) says…

The biggest savings will come from payroll reductions. Eliminate the scheduled bonus and reduce by 5% all salaries over $50,000. Include a freeze on hiring and then start to examine the "low hanging fruit". These budget cuts are on the verge of incompetence.
February 3, 2009 at 8:05 a.m.
perspicacious (anonymous) says…

I have to agree with beawolf. These cuts show no courage or leadership. Nobody else is getting raises this year. We need to retain the parts of Lawrence that make us Lawrence, but also we all need to share the burden of our economic problems. The choices illustrated in the proposed budget this morning are easier, but not thoughtful. I have come to expect little from this City Commission, but now they have even failed that hope.
February 3, 2009 at 9 a.m.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…

Overtime...overtime.... trash pickup way too much overtime.. Lots of people at the top. Do we need an auditor. What has the auditor done to earn his pay.
February 3, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
samsnewplace (anonymous) says…

they do seem top heavy at that red, brick building and all those 'top' people have hefty salaries...let's get rid of all the uppercrust that have salaries above and beyond what anyone would consider reasonable. amazing that the former city manager didn't need so many helpers to do his job.
February 3, 2009 at 9:33 a.m.
grammaddy (anonymous) says…

How about a freeze on city employees wages, including the city commissioners. I would gladly volunteer to do the crosswalks at my grandchild's school and maybe the PTA should consider getting those parents to do the same. What are the city commissioners willing to volunteer their time for?
February 3, 2009 at 9:38 a.m.
Trobs (anonymous) says…

Stop building roundabouts - I saw a number and it may be wrong but $150,000 per. That's just insane, build a normal four way stop sign.
February 3, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…

"gccs14r (Anonymous) says… I didn't see a “Cut corporate welfare” option, so I didn't vote"Are you retarded?
February 3, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

What else do you call an $11 million tax abatement for a parking garage?
February 3, 2009 at 11:46 a.m.
gl0ck0wn3r (anonymous) says…

Where is the T on the list?
February 3, 2009 at 1:01 p.m.
beawolf (anonymous) says…

"The kids need someplace to go to do drugs."...The more you post the more I wonder about your sanity.
February 3, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.
vicblthndr (anonymous) says…

waisted pretty roundabouts, extra sports and recreational, and don't forget the 40 light the city put in for that half mile stretch from 15th to 23rd no kasold dr. Then took over half of them out. great city managment.
February 3, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.
dgraham (anonymous) says…

I'm not understanding their way of thinking. They build a $200,000.00 Walmart at Wakarusa but want to shut down the Prairie Park Nature Center? And cut the recreation programs, well let them go ahead, because they aren't looking at the consequences. There will be more crime in this town than they can handle. If you get rid of things for young people or of any age, they will get bored. And then they are going to wonder why all the crimes. Duh............
February 3, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.
yankeelady (anonymous) says…

Freeze salaries, like a lot of the rest of us are doing. Then forget about the Farmland Plant and stop throwing money at the Downtown Lawrence Association. Downtown is pretty much gone anyway. The remaining stores all close too early for working people to get there, and they are overpriced too boot.
February 3, 2009 at 4:21 p.m.
Godot (anonymous) says…

Cut the funding for the Chamber of Commerce.
February 3, 2009 at 4:33 p.m.
Godot (anonymous) says…

Cut the T
February 3, 2009 at 4:33 p.m.
Godot (anonymous) says…

Lease Eagle Bend to some out of town sucker.
February 3, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.
Godot (anonymous) says…

Don't pay for sprinklers systems for privately owned downtown buildings.
February 3, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.
Godot (anonymous) says…

Cut the budget for hiring consultants.
February 3, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.
beawolf (anonymous) says…

"Downtown is pretty much gone anyway. The remaining stores all close too early for working people to get there, and they are overpriced too boot."....Bad idea. The downtown was one of the main attractions that led to my moving here. I like the quaint "niche" shops. Weavers retains that old department store feel. Good places to eat and drink. It's clean, friendly and yes, a little pricey but unique.I love strolling along Mass on a warm Summer morning or evening, stopping at one of the many coffee shops and just read a book or people watch. Concerts in the Park; a movie at Liberty Hall; a cold beer at the Eldridge; peruse through the Dusty Bookshelf; and there's always a good exhibit at Watkins Museum.
February 3, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.
OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…

I think "cut the T" fits under "services", which is what I checked.My baby uses too many recreational services! We can't cut those.
February 3, 2009 at 6:03 p.m.
gl0ck0wn3r (anonymous) says…

"dgraham (Anonymous) says…I'm not understanding their way of thinking. They build a $200,000.00 Walmart at Wakarusa but want to shut down the Prairie Park Nature Center?"Clearly there are quite a few things you don't understand.
February 3, 2009 at 9:06 p.m.
SpeedRacer (anonymous) says…

beawolf (Anonymous) says…The biggest savings will come from payroll reductions. Eliminate the scheduled bonus and reduce by 5% all salaries over $50,000. Include a freeze on hiring and then start to examine the “low hanging fruit”.Didn't you even look at the budget? If you had been the one busting his/her butt half your life to make a decent salary, you wouldn't be saying this. For the most part the budget hasn't increased in salaries or any other expenditures except in the area of "transfers" or contingency funds. Most of these funds would not be spent except in the event the State fails to fund certain commitments, and believe me, they will find a way to make us pay for them. Even the T, which I hate, is funded by the sales tax increase. The capital improvements under transfers is going to have wait for better times unless Congress allocates funds for public works projects. Then, we can get the new library and other things that the socks and sandals crowd wants.
February 3, 2009 at 9:30 p.m.
rusty2 (anonymous) says…

Eagle Bend golf course.
February 4, 2009 at 1:15 a.m.
rusty2 (anonymous) says…

find a KU alumni who would like to 'volunteer' for a salary of say $95,000 to replace Corliss.then vote for a structural change of government which will elect a Mayor based upon leadership and require that all commissioners represent a district instead of the blah / non-committment of the current 'at large' commissioners.time for 'structural changes' for a broken system.elected Mayorcommissioners from each districtnew city manager
February 4, 2009 at 1:18 a.m.
merrill (anonymous) says…

"Godot (Anonymous) says…Lease Eagle Bend to some out of town sucker." Apparently one potential sucker in the past took a look and decided against becoming THE sucker....the potential sucker walked away. The question becomes if that use is such a losing proposition why use it for a purpose that requires too much just to keep it operational? A properly maintained golf course can be labor and money intensive.In the previous two years I believe the budget showed $300,000 - $400,000 was spent which included laying new sod etc etc. Maybe a Pro Shop was a part of that as well.If voters had a say I believe it would be shut down as a golf course and voted in as a less labor and money intensive operation. Perhaps a RV camp ground would require less tax dollars certainly far less labor.There was significant opposition to this in the first place however the chamber thought it would be good for attracting home buyers and business to this expensive bedroom community. It was a hot button issue during a city commission race. I would speculate that most new golfers to town decided to play the Orchards or use the country clubs.
February 4, 2009 at 5:51 a.m.
commuter (anonymous) says…

Merrill: From what I have seen here. You are part of the problem. You complain about what the city does do and the boards you are on, you keep wanting more and more and more and more money for their projects.Maybe you talk to the city about mowing the course? This could be a win win. You get paid to work- the city gets the course mowed. Or better yet. Stop complaining and run for city commission!!! Heck I would pay for your fee to run.I would complain more on this board but I have to go to work.and Merrill- stop the cut and paste. You should be charged every time you cut and paste.
February 4, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…

"I didn't see a “Cut corporate welfare” option, so I didn't vote"Ditto"No one predicted this bad economy so you can't blame what was done in the past."There were plenty of folks predicting this, for exactly the reasons that caused it. Unfortunately, they aren't the clueless talking heads that are allowed on Fox, CNN, etc.
February 4, 2009 at 8:04 a.m.
rhernandez (anonymous) says…

The low people on the totem pole are already losing parts of their raises and such. Instead of taking from the already struggling we should rethink projects like the stupid tree grates downtown that cost us over a million dollars. I love Lawrence as much as the next person but everyone is putting beautification and improvments on the back burner becasue of the economy and the city should be no different. I want to remodel my bathroom. Does the city want to fire a hard working employee to pay for that?
February 4, 2009 at 8:23 a.m.
lindad (Linda Wheeler) says…

The City has wasted a LOT! of $$ on roundabouts. And on traffic calming barriers? at a lot of intersections & along a lot of streets & the city spends a lot of time & $ replacing signs run into/over. When they are not needed for pedestrian crossing safety - they are a WASTE of city/taxpayer money. Trees downtown - I think add a lot of unique character to downtown & help keep it vibrant & strong which brings in revenue for the city. the same for are parks. City should put together a citizen & government committee to look at the whole budget & see where real waste exists & where cuts can be made that impact the fewest & are easily brought back when $$ is there again. The city also needs to inform the public to contact state legislatures about how what they are planning for cuts in city revenue - negatively affect the state.
February 4, 2009 at 8:39 a.m.
Eaglepass (anonymous) says…

How about asking the city manager,Why the Sanitation Department needs so many trash trucks and so many workers, When for those of you that don't realize it >>>when the trash collectors get their routes done, they get to leave, go home, go to another job etc..... and still get paid 8 hrs for only working a few each day.Maybe just maybe if these workers work 8 hrs, like the rest of the city employees then there would be less need, ie less expense for citizen in raised fees, and less wasted funds on excessive employees and trucks.So if you get a chance call the sanitation department or the city manager and ask them about this, I bet you will be surprised to find out the truth!!!I sure was.say no to the EmpT
February 4, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
gl0ck0wn3r (anonymous) says…

l"indad (Anonymous) says… The City has wasted a LOT! of $$ on roundabouts. And on traffic calming barriers? at a lot of intersections & along a lot of streets & the city spends a lot of time & $ replacing signs run into/over. "You can thank Richard Heckler (aka: Merrill) for those - he's on the traffic safety commission. With his extensive mowing experience, he helps spend massive amounts of your money making your drive "safer."
February 4, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.
1029 (anonymous) says…

They should get rid of the genius whose idea it was to make that mini-turn lane on southbound Mass St. at 14th. What the f#@k is that thing and who thought it was needed? There is also another mini-"idiot turn lane" on 15th between Naismith and Iowa, but I always assumed that it was KU's doing.Also, they should get rid of every single person who had a hand in designing the stretch of 19th between Indiana and Mass St. The timing of the lights is all wrong and the way the lanes were laid out makes one wonder if they were trying to create as much confusion and/or accidents as possible.
February 4, 2009 at 2:59 p.m.
dontslanderme (anonymous) says…

What amount does the city need to cut? The police budget is over 13 million. I watch two police cars camping out across the street every morning. Cut a million or two right there.
February 5, 2009 at 3:11 p.m.
brotherskeeper (anonymous) says…

Increase parking tickets to $20 like every other city.
February 6, 2009 at 3:58 p.m.