2004 Legislative Priority Statement
Letter from City Commission
January 5, 2004
Dear Douglas County Legislators,
As the 2004 Kansas Legislature begins, the Lawrence City Commission wishes to express their genuine appreciation for the work you perform on behalf of the Lawrence community. We represent the same constituents and share the same goals for our citizens and community.
We have prepared a list of concerns and issues impacting the City of Lawrence that are likely to be addressed during the 2004 legislative session. The State's continuing fiscal concerns will undoubtedly be a major issue. Kansas municipalities have already paid a heavy price - during the previous legislative session, the State completely - and perhaps permanently - stopped providing cities with revenue sharing and local ad valorem tax reduction funds. Many of our items are frequent annual issues - their redundancy speaks to their continuing importance not our lack of creativity. Our opposition to unfunded mandates and concerns about reductions in local control will always be a top legislative concern.
- The City of Lawrence opposes State imposed spending or taxation controls or lids. Local tax and spending decisions should be made by locally elected officials.
- The City of Lawrence supports additional funding for our public schools, including allowing Douglas County voters the opportunity to vote for an additional sales tax to enhance our local school districts. We support legislation allowing for a local sales tax to support our schools.
- The local sales tax is a vital revenue for funding essential City services - including police, firefighters, public works and other City operations. The Kansas Legislature should continue to pursue the "Stream-lined Sales Tax" and other opportunities to include Internet and catalog sales tax collection.
- The City of Lawrence supports efforts to reduce unnecessary State mandates, such as State licensing requirements for City- operated youth recreation programs, requiring newspaper publication of legal notices (versus Internet posting) and archaic State law limits on the authority of cities to invest public funds.
- We oppose legislation that would remove City authority to regulate the use of public right-of-way and easements, and we oppose legislation, which would negatively alter state law governing city annexation authority.
- We support the request from the City's Housing Trust Fund Board to explore alternative revenue sources to enhance housing options our community.
- We continue to support State efforts to encourage resource conservation and recycling. We also oppose State efforts to reduce our community's water rights that serve an important part of our future.
Sincerely,
David M. Dunfield
Mayor
