Lawrence Public Library approves budget with mill levy hike to 4.5

A $200,000 Lawrence home would pay about $9.20 more a year for the library portion of its property-tax bill after trustees raised the levy to 4.5 mills, while renters will feel the change only through the broader housing costs tied to property taxes. The Lawrence Public Library board said rising employee health insurance costs left it little room to avoid the increase.

The seven-member Board of Trustees approved the 2027 budget unanimously Monday, May 18, setting the mill levy at 4.5, the highest rate the library can approve under city ordinance. The move is expected to generate about $940,000 in additional property-tax revenue, lifting the tax-funded portion of the budget to about $7.9 million from just under $7 million in 2026. With fees and other funding sources included, the full 2027 budget will total $8.1 million. The plan also sets aside $950,000 for employee benefits and $564,000 for the capital improvement fund.

Executive Director Brad Allen told trustees he tried to build a flat-budget version, but said there was not enough to cut once insurance costs were folded in. He said employee health insurance expenses had climbed about 21% over the previous budget year, and the 2027 plan assumes another 15% to 20% increase for the portion of the year not yet known. Board member Allison Mazzei backed the more conservative estimate, saying it was smart to plan for costs that are likely to keep rising.

The board packet for the May 18 meeting listed the 2027 Budget Recommendation as an action item. It also noted that the library’s strategic plan is due for a refresh and that staff are developing a Library Master Plan, a broader planning effort that could shape future spending decisions. The library’s budget-and-finance policy says annual budgeting is supposed to follow the library’s mission, vision, values and strategic plan.

The increase comes as local tax pressure is tightening across Douglas County. County commissioners have warned that slowing revenue growth could make the 2027 county budget difficult, and city residents already pay property taxes to four separate units: Douglas County, the State of Kansas, USD 497 and the City of Lawrence. Lawrence Public Library says it is supported by tax dollars, Friends & Foundation fundraising and more than 300 volunteers, and the levy vote will help determine how much of that system can stay stable as costs rise.