City commissioners heard a report on last year’s budget showing city reserve funds all ended with more cash on hand than initially projected.
Michael Gentry, assistant to the city manager, presented a report on the unaudited 2025 budget. Numbers could still change as the prior year is closed out and audited.
The report showed 2025 was a strong budget year for the general fund, which ended the year with about $400,000 more than planned, thanks to a revenue increase of 10.8% from the original budget and an expense decrease of 4.3% from the revised budget.
The city’s utility funds all ended with strong balances, Gentry said. That is partly because planned capital expenditures for 2025 were pushed to 2026, so the funds will likely decrease this year, Gentry said.
Commissioner Roberta Lehmann said she was impressed with how well city staff have stuck to the budget and managed expenses.
The recap was the first step for starting to begin the 2027 budget planning process. City Manager Zack Daniel said the theme of the 2027 budget would be to alleviate pressure on the property tax-supported general fund by developing new sources of revenue, like increased sales taxes via commercial development or new home building.
Amy DeLaRosa, president of the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, recapped the group’s holiday events, including the holiday market, which featured 62 vendors, and a holiday decorating contest.
She noted attendance was down a bit at Main Street Market this year and they were looking at ways to drive up attendance, including diversifying vendors, locations and times.
“We’re taking Main Street Market on the move for 2026,” she said.
She said they are gearing up for Fourth of July and World Cup events.
Commissioner Jason Musick encouraged people to volunteer to help at CVB events.
“The more people we have involved, the stronger our events and the stronger our community,” Musick said.
Susie Yuran, human resources manager, highlighted a couple of recent city hirings, including Kyle Kobe as the new city planner and Nate Criqui as a new police officer. The city also hired a part-time deputy court clerk, Jesse Hatch, and two new interns. The city is now at 55 full-time employees. She also noted City Clerk Kelly Delay earned certified public manager status.
As part of the consent agenda, commissioners received an update from the codes department, which highlighted its main priority for the first quarter of the year will be Paschal’s Landing and 10 Union Lofts, a pair of apartment complexes on the same land planned for across the street from the elementary school. Paschal’s Landing will be affordable housing and 10 Union Lofts will be market rate.
The codes department will also focus on a series of other housing developments like Shadow Ridge North and Holladay Woods.
Public Works Director Branden Boyd gave an update on the citywide water study. He said they were in the final report stages and would be looking at action steps soon.
He also said they noticed a leak in one of the lines at the water treatment plant and the cost to repair it would be about $20,000. It is expected to take about four to six weeks to get fully up and running again. So far there have been no service impacts.
Fire Chief Justin Lee noted a fire on Church Street earlier this month. He said they were able to contain it to one room, but two pets died.
Parks and Recreation Director Sally Pennington said there will be another community survey soon for Pilla Park improvements based on past community engagement.
Delay said they will have cameras installed this week at City Hall for security. Commissioner Alex Curnes had mentioned it a few meetings ago following a shooting at Lawrence City Hall.
Reach Cuyler Dunn at [email protected].
