City manager’s recommended budget calls for holding Lawrence tax rate flat, increases in utility rates

As part of his recommended budget for next year, City Manager Tom Markus is proposing the city’s mill levy rate remain flat.

The recommended operating budget totals about $206 million and will be presented to the City Commission for initial input at its work session Tuesday. As proposed, next year’s budget would see $14.6 million of unfunded capital improvement projects, personnel requests and equipment purchases.

A memo to the commission notes that many tough decisions had to be made about priorities, and Markus said that for him, the capital improvement projects are the most difficult.