Lawrence City Council approves $6.14 million free-cash transfer; multiple revolving-fund reauthorizations fail

The Lawrence City Council on Thursday approved a $6,137,126 transfer from the citys free cash to multiple reserve and operating accounts and set aside money tied to easements for the rail-trail project, while a series of motions to reauthorize individual revolving accounts failed by 4-5 votes.

The transfer, introduced as document 2-43-25, moves $6,137,126 from free cash into several accounts including the fiscal stability account and funds to cover OPEB-related needs, workers compensation and injured-on-duty reserves, snow-and-ice overexpenditures, approximately $1 million for debt service, and a reserve for litigation and judgments. Council members discussed potential tax impacts if the transfer were not approved: councilors said failing to pass the measure could increase an average single-family homeowners tax bill by about $50.

Planning Director Daniel McCarthy, who addressed councilors about one component of the package, described funds that will be set aside to secure construction easements acquired for the rail-trail project. So this request is to secure funds for easements that were acquired as part of…