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City approves budget with slight property tax rise By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
It’s OK to feel optimistic about the economy again — at least that was the message out of Lawrence City Hall on Tuesday. Commissioners gave pre-
liminary approval to their most aggressive budget in recent years: a $185.6 million spending plan that relies heavily on the economy improving at a quicker rate in 2014. “I do have a level of optimism about the com-
munity’s economy,” City Manager David Corliss told commissioners. “But we have optimism based on facts, not just hope. That’s why I think we can adopt a budget along these lines.” Commissioners unanimously approved increas-
ing expenditures by about 6 percent and raising the property tax mill levy by 0.5 mill. But the budget also calls for dipping into the city’s cash reserves to the tune of about $1.5 million to balance the budget. But as commissioners ap-
proved the 2014 budget, they said they were betting that the city ultimately wouldn’t have to use cash reserves because they think the local economy is poised to produce sales tax and other tax revenues at amounts higher Please see CITY, page 2A
CITY COMMISSION
2 years after quitting arts, state returns with grants
Contending with triple-digit heat
By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — The state of Kansas is back in the arts. More than two years after Gov. Sam Brownback made Kansas the first state to stop funding the arts, a reconstructed arts commission awarded $58,000 to eight organizations across the state, it was announced Tuesday. Henry Schwaller, a critic of Brownback’s decision to veto arts funding in We lost millions 2011, said it has of dollars in the been a tough climb back. process, but at least “We lost mil- we are starting back lions of dollars in the process, from scratch.” but at least we are starting back — Henry Schwaller, a critic of from scratch,” Brownback’s decision to veto Schwaller, of arts funding in 2011 Hays, said. In 2011, Brownback declared the state shouldn’t be funding the arts and abolished the Kansas Arts Commisison and vetoed its funding. The action cost Kansas $1.3 million per year in federal and regional matching dollars. Schwaller said the lack of funding hurt mostly small towns that were more dependent on
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Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
MEMBERS OF THE LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY TEAM play Frisbee Tuesday in Watson Park. The activity was part of a team practice that included running to and from the school to the park. At 104 degrees, Tuesday was the hottest day of the year so far. Douglas County was under a heat advisory from noon until 8 p.m. An advisory is issued when the combination of high humidity and temperatures make it feel hotter than 105 degrees. Though Tuesday’s temperature was only 4 degrees higher than Monday’s 100 degrees, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Topeka say a heat index of 114 on Tuesday left Lawrence feeling much hotter. Today is expected to be cooler, with a high of 90 degrees.
Please see ARTS, page 2A
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
CITY UTILITY WORKER JESS POTTER wipes the perspiration away while working on a water line Tuesday at 15th and Connecticut streets.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
STEVE STANDING uses a fan Tuesday while working outdoors on a house in the 1800 block of Barker Avenue.
Westar seeks hike in residential rates but cut in big business rates By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
Brownback’s office says he will reveal judicial applicants’ names, then backs off By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — Under fire from advocates for open government, Gov. Sam Brownback’s office on Tuesday said he would disclose the names of applicants for a new Kansas Court of Appeals position. But then minutes later, the office said a decision on that issue hadn’t been finalized yet.
E i l e e n Hawley, a spokeswoman for Brownback, said the furor over the governor’s earlier deciBrownback sion to keep the names secret had become too much of a distraction. “It became obvious the focus of attention was on
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cess on July 31, which is the deadline for applying. On that same date, he would announce the date that he would make his selection, she had said. Hawley had said a decision has not been made on whether Brownback will reveal the names of applicants for future appellate positions. A new law allows the governor to make appointPlease see JUDICIAL, page 2A
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the process rather than on selecting the best qualified person on the Court of Appeals,” Hawley said. But shortly afterward, Hawley contacted the Journal-World a second time and said that she had “gotten ahead” of herself and that a final decision hadn’t yet been made. She had said earlier that Brownback would announce the names of those who went through the application pro-
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TOPEKA — The public will have its say this week on a proposal by Westar Energy to increase rates on average residential customers by $7.50 per month while cutting rates for major industrial and commercial businesses. The proposal would increase Westar’s revenue by $31.7 million. It would raise residential bills by 8.8 percent and small businesses by 6.2 percent, while decreasing industrial bills by 8.4 percent and bills that public schools pay by 7.6 percent. A public hearing on the proposal is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kansas Corporation Commission, at 1500 SW Arrowhead Road. Westar says it needs the rate increase to meet EPA-required upgrades at the coal-burning La Cygne power Please see WESTAR, page 2A
‘Exceptional’ harvest As farmers in the Douglas County area wrap up their harvesting, this year’s wheat crop is deemed a great success, thanks to mild weather and adequate moisture. Page 3A
Vol.155/No.191 28 pages