To the editor:

As the city commissioners look at the budget for the coming year, let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past. It is beyond belief that for several years in a row you accepted a revenue view that grossly inflates sales tax revenue. Avoid this mismanagement and do your job to set a realistic budget.

Now since the current budget will need to be reduced, I propose the following. Since social service spending increased 400%, so now cut $12 million. This would leave sufficient to support homeless services. It appears that in the past we have thrown money around and have little to show as results. Your social service goals may be unrealistic. We are the only community in Kansas that has had a 20% jump in the number of homeless people. Something needs to change.

I think the budget needs to cut municipal services and operations and planning and development. I do not recommend cuts to fire and medical or the police department. I also think you need to avoid cuts to parks and recreation.

Make no increase to the mill levy. Taxes seriously impact the everyday decisions of all Lawrence’s citizens.

Marlene Merrill,

Lawrence