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Parks director warns of major 2026 cuts; fees and service reductions presented as options
Summary
City Parks and Recreation staff told the advisory board the department faces a share of a $6.5 million citywide shortfall for 2026 and will likely need a combination of fee increases and service reductions to meet targets.
The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation director told the advisory board that the department will likely bear a significant portion of a citywide $6.5 million budget shortfall in 2026 and that officials are considering a mix of fee increases and service reductions to reduce the shortfall.
During the director’s report the director said the department expects to receive budget guidance and targets in March and that the City Commission will discuss community input on March 21 and present budget numbers on April 1. “We know we will have to have budget reductions to the tune of $6,500,000 across the city in 2026,” the director said.
Department leaders said they will try to minimize program losses by increasing revenue where feasible — for example by updating program fees and implementing a pricing policy for recreation centers — but warned that some services could be cut if revenue measures fall short. The director said staff will analyze fees against comparable cities and combine fee changes with selective reductions in maintenance or programming if necessary.
Board members raised concerns about equity and access. Vicky, an advisory board member, asked that officials consider how fee policies could create barriers and called for equitable implementation: “I would hope that we lean in just a bit there,” she said, urging options that avoid stigmatizing or limiting access for lower-income residents.
Staff provided several operational updates tied to budget planning: schematic design for the replacement pool and bathhouse is underway, and staff now expect construction to begin in October (pending permitting and bids). That revised schedule may delay the pool opening window and affect projected aquatics revenue. Staff also said a project to convert the municipal golf course irrigation from treated to untreated water is under way with testing expected next March and a hoped-for completion by the end of 2026; staff said water-cost savings would likely appear in 2027 rather than 2026.
City staff described recent community engagement for budget priorities, noting roughly 600 participants in the online Balancing Act exercise; officials said the exercise is advisory and not a statistically randomized survey. The department plans to use that input, consultant recommendations from the comprehensive plan and peer comparisons to develop fee proposals and program-reduction scenarios for the Commission’s review.
Staff said the city manager’s office is holding off on most new hires and replacements until budget targets are finalized to avoid hiring that may later be cut. The director said there is currently no formal layoff plan but that open positions are not being filled immediately to minimize future personnel impact.
No formal action was taken by the advisory board; members asked staff to continue presenting scenario analyses and to provide comparisons with peer cities during upcoming meetings so the board can advise on equity and program prioritization.
