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This series on 6News, the Journal-World and LJWorld.com will outline the city budget proposals, show what programs will be cut to meet the $4.4 million shortfall, what will be saved and what those actions mean to Lawrence residents.

To see the latest reports tune in to 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband's Channel 6 and pick up a copy of the Journal-World. You can see all the stories archived in this section, plus vote online in our weekly 6News e-Polls and tell us what you think on our Reader Reaction forum.

6News video: Lawrence's 2004 budget approved
Thursday, August 14, 2003
The city's fiscal problems will have impact for many years to come.

City foresees budget crisis for '05
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Lawrence City Commissioner David Schauner isn't happy. He voted this week to raise his constituents' city property taxes 10 percent and to make cuts in virtually every city department. "I don't like this budget," Schauner said. "I don't like what it requires us to do."

6News e-Poll looks at funding for 'The T'
Monday, August 11, 2003
(Web Posted Monday at 4:46 p.m.) "The T," which is the city's transit system has often been criticized as not living up to its expectations of ridership.

6News video: New library branch may not be built
Friday, August 8, 2003
The city had been creating a library reserve fund to create a branch in West Lawrence, but hasn't been able to add funds this year.

Public library director says building improvements overdue
Friday, August 8, 2003
The Lawrence Public Library was a state-of-the-art facility -- in 1970. "It wasn't designed for the number of people we have today," said library director Bruce Flanders. "There have been a lot of changes."

Less Public Works funding will reduce street repairs
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
When George Lippencott moved to Lawrence last year, he noticed something about the curb in front of his home. It was slowly disappearing.

6News video: Cutbacks might lead to road woes
Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Lawrence's Public Works Department will be facing budget restrictions next year.

6News e-Poll asks about proposed public works funding cuts
Monday, August 4, 2003
(Web Posted Monday at 10:58 a.m.) The Lawrence City Commission cut funding to the city's public works department by more than $300,000 -- which are some of the biggest reductions in any city department. Do you agree with the cuts?

City will consider hotel tax increase
Saturday, August 2, 2003
When the Olathe-based National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics was looking for a national championship site, the group didn't have to look farther than its own back yard. "We have schools in Canada, California, Kentucky, Texas," said Kelly Noonan, an NAIA development assistant. "We like a central location with easy travel in and out."

6News video: City will raise the tax no one in Lawrence should pay
Saturday, August 2, 2003
The bed tax increase will benefit the Lawrence Visitors Bureau.

Cell phones selling city treasury short
Friday, August 1, 2003
Jordan Shelton never needs to check an answering machine when he gets home. He carries a cellular phone -- his only phone -- everywhere he goes. "Now I can take my phone places," said Shelton, 29, manager of Vermont Street BBQ. "It's not stuck in the wall.

6News video: Increased use of cell phones decrease franchise fees
Friday, August 1, 2003
The city collects fees from local phone companies, but the cell phones get around such fees.

City's debt could affect bond rating
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Lawrence is built on debt. More than $100 million worth is outstanding right now, with more than $70 million of that in general obligation bonds backed only by the city's tax base. That debt financed a new fire station in east Lawrence, recreation facilities, stormwater projects and dozens of roads.

6News video: Bleak budget outlook may lower city's bond rating
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
The city fund balance keeps dropping, putting the city's bond rating in jeopardy of going down.

6News e-Poll looks at 'bed tax'
Monday, July 28, 2003
(Updated Monday at 5:00 p.m.) Lawrence city commissioners are looking for more ways to increase revenues for next year. Should they raise the "bed" tax for hotel rooms?

6News video: Parking may give city more revenue
Saturday, July 26, 2003
Prices at parking meters downtown may go up, and parking ticket fines may go up. The city charges less for both meters and fines than any other city in the Midwest.

City's public safety pledge leaves firefighters wondering
Thursday, July 24, 2003
It's one of Lawrence's most versatile and expensive pieces of equipment. It's also almost useless by itself. Ladder 1, Douglas County Fire & Medical's ladder truck, is so understaffed its crew can't begin to attack a fire until another engine arrives.

6News video: Firefighters feel budget pinch
Thursday, July 24, 2003
The city cannot hire enough firefighters to properly man ladder truck.

6News e-Poll looks at higher taxes
Monday, July 21, 2003
(Web Posted Monday at 11:32 a.m.) Lawrence city commissioners are trying to figure out how to get more money for city services next year. Should they raise taxes or other fees? Tell us what you think: Vote in the 6News e-Poll and see the results this week on 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.

Tax bite widens for city budget
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Lawrence property owners will have to dig deeper into their wallets to pay their tax bill for 2004. The Lawrence City Commission on Wednesday decided to raise property taxes by 10 percent. The 2.5-mill increase means the owner of a $150,000 home will pay an additional $43 in property taxes when tax bills arrive this winter. A mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed valuation.

6News video: City budget gets hammered out
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Through difficult compromise, the city commission is deciding on final cuts and increasing mill levies.

6News video: County dispatch service likely to receive boost from city
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
A pressing need for dispatchers might lead the city to provide an extra $50,000 for two new positions.

City may pick up tab for two new 911 dispatchers
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
In an emergency, it's a message that callers don't want to hear: "Thank you for calling Douglas County 9-1-1. We are currently experiencing unexpectedly high call volumes. Please stay on the line and your call will be answered by the next available dispatcher."

6News e-Poll asks about firefighter position
Monday, July 14, 2003
(Updated Friday at 2:41 a.m.) It's a clear trade off -- do you sacrifice safety for the sake of a budget? Lawrence city administrators say that the city can't afford another fighterfighter position. But the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical department says another firefighter is needed. Tell us what you think: Vote in the 6News e-Poll and see the results this week on 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.

Tight financial belt may squeeze city workers into private sector
Saturday, July 12, 2003
Some cities call them cost-of-living increases. Others call them inflation adjustments. In Lawrence, the annual pay increases designed to keep pace with rising prices are called general wage adjustments. In the city's proposed 2004 budget, they're called a thing of the past.

6News video: City employees have to tighten belts
Saturday, July 12, 2003
Next year's expected wage adjustment won't happen in 2004.

Service agencies share in city's budget pain
Friday, July 11, 2003
It's an atmosphere of barely controlled chaos at the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence. Daily, dozens of youths shoot pool, surf the Web and play basketball while hundreds more are whisked away for field trips throughout the county.

6News video: Cuts bite deeply into outside agencies
Friday, July 11, 2003
The budget crisis will hurt several agencies but has the biggest impact on the Humane Society; and the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence are asking for some share of limited city funds.

6News e-Poll looks at city funding for local organizations
Monday, July 7, 2003
(Updated Monday at 4:14 p.m.) The city of Lawrence is poised to spend more that $1 million to fund organizations that aren't part of city government, such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Ballard Community Center. But should it? Tell us what you think: Vote in the 6News e-Poll and see the results this week on 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.

6News video: City in Crisis e-poll results come in
Saturday, July 5, 2003
76% of respondents to the 6News e-poll say that city contigency funds should not be cut out of the budget.

City's ‘what if?' funds will be first on chopping block
Friday, July 4, 2003
There are few reminders left in North Lawrence of the 1993 floods. The bump in the road at North Second and Locust streets is one of them. Second Street collapsed during that flood, a problem that cost the city tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. The road was fixed, but it continued to settle after the repairs were complete. Every time Public Works Director Chuck Soules drives over it, he's reminded of the need to plan for the unexpected.

6News video: City budget may eliminate contingency funds
Friday, July 4, 2003
The loss of the emergency funds may keep the city from dealing with unknown disasters.

T, parks ripe for budget cuts
Thursday, July 3, 2003
Fewer flowers in the parks. Fewer buses to ride. And fewer tax dollars to be paid by Lawrence property owners. Lawrence city commissioners mulled that formula Wednesday as they sought to slice a proposed 13 percent property tax increase for 2004.

6News video: City officials may cut more services to avoid tax increase
Thursday, July 3, 2003
City commissioners want to cut back on mill levies, but may have to cut the T or street repairs.

6News e-Poll looks at city contingency funds
Monday, June 30, 2003
(Updated Monday at 4:01 p.m.) Should the Lawrence City Commission eliminate special contingency funds this year to help the city get out of its budget shortfall? Tell us what you think: Vote in the 6News e-Poll and see the results this week on 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.

City seeks 13% increase in tax rate
Saturday, June 28, 2003
The biggest city property tax increase in at least 20 years would be needed to fund the proposed 2004 budget unveiled Friday at City Hall. The combination of a 3.41 mill-levy increase and an average 7 percent increase in property valuations means the owner of a $150,000 home could see the city portion of their tax bill rise from $441 to $534 in 2004.

Business owners brace for 'whammy'
Saturday, June 28, 2003
A 13 percent property tax increase to be considered next week by the Lawrence City Commission is certain to hit business owners hard. Especially those downtown.

6News video: Tax increases will dig into local businesses
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Property taxes and a mill levy will take a bite out of business profits.

Insurance costs worry city employees
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Jerry Allen is worried. The 35-year-old works for the city of Lawrence Neighborhood Resources division. He has a wife and three children for whom he provides health insurance. He's trying not to think about what might happen when the Lawrence City Commission makes a final decision on the city employee health care plan.

6News video: Skyrocketing insurance costs burden city budget
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
City workers are increasingly worried about the cost of health care.

Series to examine city budget cuts
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
$4.4 million. It's a sum representing about 4 percent of the city of Lawrence's overall budget and close to 10 percent of the general fund, the account from which myriad city departments get cash for day-to-day operations.

6News video: City in Crisis series to examine budget problems
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
6News kicks off an in-depth look at the problems facing Lawrence due to tight economic times.

Setting city budget priorities -- vote in the 6News e-Poll
Monday, June 23, 2003
(Updated Tuesday at 3:14 p.m.) What's the top priority the Lawrence City Commission should consider in creating its budget this summer? Tell us what you think: Vote in the 6News e-Poll and see the results on 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.