To the editor:

Lawrence city commissioners and the city manager are discussing a proposed 2021 budget that is out of step as many Douglas County residents face the COVID-19 pandemic, skyrocketing unemployment and an uncertain economy. The proposed budget contains a staggering increase in water, solid waste and storm water utility rates. Lawrence city leaders need to seriously reconsider their rate hike proposal to avoid causing more financial harm and suffering to Lawrence ratepayers.

City commissioners would be well-advised to solve existing problems in the water utility department and squeeze out every inefficiency and waste in operations and maintenance within the Lawrence water infrastructure. Every effort should be made to ensure energy is being used as efficiently as possible to drive down operating costs and avoid major rate hikes such as those being discussed.

This means a detailed, bottom-up study that identifies every inefficiency and wasteful practice, including the treatment facilities and within the administration. The study should be performed by an outside consulting firm and consider questions such as “how much money is the City of Lawrence currently losing because of leaking pipes, water mains and inefficient treatment facilities?”

Countless municipal utilities across our nation are achieving huge improvements to their bottom lines because of their commitment to detailed planning and development of appropriate financial incentives. Any financial benefits accrued should be returned to the ratepayers in the form of lower monthly bills and for rewarding water utility employees.

Thomas M. Kurata,

Lawrence