Wichita plans to increase police funding by millions of dollars next year and privatize Century II, bucking suggestions from protesters and community activists on both issues, as the city grapples with an expected $50 million budget hole over the next three years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s proposed 2021 budget cuts some services, pushes back deadlines on capital improvements and doesn’t raise the property tax rate. Arts and cultural funding will take a 5% cut. Fewer trees will get planted. Stray cats will be left to roam. And the Wichita Animal Shelter will no longer accept animals from people trying to put their pets up for adoption. The $50 million is what needs to be cut between 2020 and 2022 to balance the city’s nearly $630 million-a-year budget.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
