Lawrence Journal-World 07-04-12

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TICKET-FIXING INVESTIGATION

Ex-officer awaits grievance process resolution By George Diepenbrock gdiepenbrock@ljworld.com

A former Lawrence police sergeant who lost his position in March related to a ticket-fixing investigation said Tuesday he was still

Monroe

awaiting completion of the city’s grievance process. Michael Monroe said Tuesday he had participated in a recent hearing before a city grievance review board related to his March firing. He said the process is now

in “stage four” of the city’s employee grievance process, which, according to the city’s employee handbook, is an appeal to City Manager David Corliss about the review board’s findings. “We still have some time

before we have a final resolution,” said Monroe, who declined further comment about the proceedings. Monroe did not reveal the review board’s decision or say whether he or Police Chief Tarik Khatib was ap-

pealing the board’s decision to Corliss. City Attorney Toni Wheeler said Tuesday she could not comment on Monroe’s case because it was a Please see GRIEVANCE, page 2A

Artful assembly Andy Griffith, pictured at right

Andy Griffith dies at age 86 By Martha Waggoner Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Andy Griffith’s gift to the show that bore his name wasn’t just the homespun wisdom of the plain-spoken sheriff he played. It was the place he created: a small town where all foibles are forgiven and friendships are forever, full of characters who felt like family. Mayberry, a fictional North Carolina village said to be modeled on Griffith’s Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

MONICA VIDAL, HOUSTON, INSTALLS “TEMPLE HIVE,” one of two fabric, wood and fiberglass sculptures for her upcoming Lawrence Arts Center exhibit titled “Tumor & Temple.” Assisting at right is Sarah Gross. Vidal’s show opens Friday, and she will give a talk Saturday at the Arts Center in the big gallery.

Please see GRIFFITH, page 2A

County approaches budget with caution Ruling leaves Mill levy raise not proposed, but ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET SOUGHT cuts, property value drop expected On Monday, the County Com- Appraiser to add a new appraiser By Alex Garrison acgarrison@ljworld.com

The proposed county budget for next year is flat — calling for no increase or decrease in the mill levy — but it does prepare for a coming budget shortfall. That’s because properties in the county likely are overvalued for taxing purposes and additional cuts at the state level likely are coming, said County Administrator Craig Weinaug. Weinaug anticipates a 2 percent to 4 percent drop in the value of property in the county in 2013, which would affect revenue through its resulting tax. A 1 percent

change in valuation roughly equates to $1 million in revenue, so the worst-case scenario for COUNTY COMMISSION the 2014 budget could be a shortfall of $4 million. Still, the overall valuation for 2012 was higher than expected — and possibly higher than the true retail value in some areas. That meant Weinaug could put together a budget that likely won’t increase taxes for most property owners — at least not at the hands of county, which gets about 20 percent of its funds from the mill levy.

Business Classified Comics Events listings

High: 102

mission will hear from departments and agencies seeking to add the following to the budget: 8:45 a.m.: $150,000 for the Lawrence Community Shelter 9:10 a.m.: $5,000 for the Ballard Center 9:20 a.m.: $73,023 for Information Technology for a new position 9:35 a.m.: $83,340 for Emergency Management for four additional sirens 9:45 a.m.: $46,924 for County

9:50 a.m.: $22,000 for the Lawrence Humane Society 10:10 a.m.: $111,272 for Public Works Budget, including request for two new equipment operators for U.S. Highway 59 10:40 a.m.: $196,399 for three new sheriff’s officers 11:15 a.m.: Various administrative issues The session is an open meeting held on the second floor of the County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

The school board, which relies almost entirely on the levy, hasn’t put out its budget yet, and the city has proposed a slight mill increase. State budget cuts resulted in about $250,000 less revenue this year and is expect-

ing to plummet next year. So, while 2013 was an easier flat budget to put together than expected, the squeeze appears to be on the horizon, and this year’s round of bud-

TOPEKA — If the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land, Kansas policyholders will have an important decision to make that would affect more than 150,000 Kansans. That would be whether to expand the Medicaid program, which is the federal- and state-funded program that provides health care in Kansas to low-income families, children and people with disabilities. The ACA required that states expand their Medicaid programs to include all non-elderly persons with incomes up to 133 percent of

Please see COUNTY, page 2A

Please see MEDICAID, page 2A

INSIDE

Firecracker hot 8A 1C-6C 7A 8A, 2B

Food Horoscope Movies Opinion

By Scott Rothschild

srothschild@ljworld.com

KU recruit reports to campus 8B Puzzles 5C Sports 4A Television 6A

5C 1B-5B 8A, 2B, 5C

Low: 72

Today’s forecast, page 8A

Medicaid expansion decision to state

Vol.154/No.186 22 pages

Kansas coach Bill Self on Tuesday said Anrio Adams, the final member of KU’s incoming recruiting class of 2012, will report to campus today and start classes Thursday. Page 1B

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