Commissioners to review proposed 2026 budget with flat mill levy during public hearings in July

County Commissioners will begin public hearings on the proposed 2026 budget at 9 a.m. Monday, July 7, in the Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. 

The proposed $191.4 million budget includes a mill levy of 41.298 mills, which remains flat from last year. One mill equals one dollar per $1,000 of assessed property value. Commissioners may consider lowering the tax rate and adding services during the review process.

The 2026 proposal includes $16.5 million in funding for more than 40 local agencies and nonprofits:

• Behavioral health and substance use disorder - $10.3 million
• At-risk and targeted populations - $2.4 million
• Health and human services - $1.8 million
• Heritage and land management - $1.1 million
• Economic development - $736,000

The proposed budget also includes funding for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical to restore a portion of the reductions called for by the City of Lawrence. This will modify the county’s portion of shared LDCFM services from 36% to 38.25%. These increased funds will preserve many of LDCFM’s current resource levels, including seven 24-hour ambulances, six Battalion Chiefs and a Training Lieutenant. As a result, the number of full-time positions that would be eliminated in 2026 has decreased from 18 to 10. Due to current vacancies, no existing LDCFM employees would be laid off.

Commissioners will also review more than 60 additional funding requests from county departments and agencies totaling $8.5 million that were not included in the proposed budget.

• Full news release: dgcoks.gov/news/062625

Board of County Commissioners

Douglas County Commission meetings are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the historic County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., on the second floor in the Commission meeting room. Meetings are also available on Zoom. Commissioners will not have a meeting on Wednesday, July 23.

Commissioners took the following action on regular business agenda items in June. They unanimously approved:

• redirecting $154,000 of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center's allocation for Assertive Community Treatment and moving it to support the implementation of a Justice Involved Supportive Housing Program and authorizing the county administrator to execute an addendum to the 2025 Bert Nash Center service agreement to support a master lease agreement between Bert Nash Center and Sims Properties to manage the units.

Work sessions

Commissioners have work sessions to study and discuss various topics throughout the year. No action is taken during work sessions. The following work sessions are scheduled at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays before the business meeting:

• July 2 - Consolidated Fire District No. 1 technical review
• July 30 - Capital Improvement Plan and Consolidated Fire District No. 1 budget

Public hearings and deliberations on 2026 proposed budget

Commissioners are scheduled to meet with community partners and county departments that have requested additional funding for 2026 during public hearings from 9 a.m. to noon July 7-July 10. These are open to the public, but Commissioners will not take public comment during the hearings. Here's the schedule based on the type of services provided:

• July 7 - Budget overview, supportive housing, behavioral health and substance use disorder.
• July 8 - Law enforcement, justice, heritage and land.
• July 9 - Emergency, economic development and youth.
• July 10 - Vulnerable populations, vital, infrastructure, land records and taxation and core.

Commissioners are scheduled to begin their budget deliberations at 9 a.m. Monday, July 14.

• Download the full budget hearing schedule

* Recordings of County Commission meetings can be found on the Douglas County YouTube channel.

From safety to celebrations, Douglas County is ready for July Fourth festivities

With Independence Day on the horizon, Douglas County is reminding residents of the rules for enjoying fireworks responsibly in unincorporated areas of the county. Fireworks may be legally discharged only on private property with the owner’s permission and supervision. Use on public streets or roadways is strictly prohibited.

Fireworks are permitted during the following times:

• Tuesday, July 1 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 2 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Thursday, July 3 - 7 a.m. to midnight
• Friday, July 4 - 7 a.m. to midnight

Lone Star Lake specifics

Fireworks may be used:

• July 1-4 during permitted hours in the upper parking lot east of the campground.
• July 4, 6 p.m.-11:45 p.m., in the area between the maintenance buildings and community building and in the area southwest of the maintenance buildings.

Fireworks are prohibited on other park lands, including campgrounds and beaches.

Residents should pick up debris and trash from fireworks. These are file photos that were taken at Lone Star Lake after the Fourth of July.

Where you can buy fireworks

The Douglas County Zoning & Codes Department regulates firework sales and has issued 13 permits for 2025. Permits cover sales and personal use from July 1 through July 4.

Residents are encouraged to practice fire safety and review tips from the Kansas Fire Marshal to ensure a fun and safe holiday.

“The key thing we would stress is for everyone to use common sense, follow the law and regulations and be respectful of neighbors and livestock,” said Interim Fire Chief John Mathis, of Consolidated Fire District No. 1. “Make sure all children are supervised and that fireworks can be discharged safely away from people and property that could be damaged.”

Community celebrations

Here’s what’s planned across the county:

• The City of Lawrence’s Summer Fest is Thursday, July 3, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper Street. Starting at 4 p.m., there will be children’s activities, an artisan fair and live music, followed by food trucks opening at 5 p.m. and a Drone Show at 9:45 p.m. Viewing will be available from the derby arena.

• The Baldwin City Recreation Commission’s Independence Day Celebration is from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, at the Baldwin City Golf Course, 1102 Main St. The event includes live music and a free Kid’s Zone along with food and drink vendors and a fireworks show at 10 p.m.

• Eudora Parks and Recreation is hosting the city’s annual fireworks display on July 4 at dusk, or about 9:30 p.m. Parking is available at the Eudora Middle School, 2635 Church St., and High School, 2203 Church St.

Offices closed

Douglas County government offices and District Court will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of the holiday.

The Douglas County Elections Office is located at 711 W. 23rd St., in the Malls Shopping Center on the southwest corner of 23rd and Louisiana streets.

Deadline to register to vote in primary is July 15

There will be a primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 5, for the Lawrence City Commission. The top four vote-getters will move on to the general election in November.

Key dates to know:

• July 15 - Last day to register to vote or update your voter registration information for the Primary.
• July 16 – First day of in-person advance voting. Advance ballots are mailed.
• July 29 – Last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot.
• Aug. 4 – In-person advance voting ends at noon.
• Aug. 5 - Polling locations are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. All advance ballots by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, Aug. 8.

Kansas Highway Patrol officers provided a truck and trailer pre-inspection training for the Public Works Department on June 17.

Public Works enhances safety skills with training led by Kansas Highway Patrol

Forty-one Public Works employees participated in a specialized truck and trailer pre-inspection training on June 17, led by Kansas Highway Patrol officers from the Department of Transportation Division. The training focused on helping drivers perform thorough and effective inspections of their vehicles and equipment while also reinforcing key state regulations.

Public Works employees with Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) operate large equipment nearly every day, and each vehicle requires inspection of approximately 100 critical items before hitting the road.

“This training is essential — not only for the safety of our drivers, but also for everyone sharing the road with these vehicles, especially when hauling large loads,” said Operations Division Manager Rod Heard.

Road construction projects underway or scheduled to begin in July on county roads

There are several road construction projects underway or scheduled to begin in July in rural areas of Douglas County:

• North 100 Road is closed between East 1100 and East 1200 roads in southern Douglas County for a culvert replacement project. The project is expected to be finished by mid-July.

• Route 1061 (East 2200 Road) is closed between North 700 and North 900 roads, south of Eudora. This road improvement project includes the replacement of four culverts, intersection reconstruction at North 800 Road, and a mill-and-overlay for the two-mile stretch of highway. The project is anticipated to be finished by the end of summer. The estimated cost is $2 million.

• North 900 Road will be closed starting July 14 between East 1050 and East 1100 roads for a bridge replacement project. The existing narrow bridge was built in 1935 and carries vehicles over a tributary to Washington Creek. The project is expected to take four months to complete. The estimated cost is $1 million.

• Route 460 (North 650 Road) will be closed two miles east of U.S. Highway 59 starting July 15. Public Works crews will replace culverts at three locations between East 1400 Road and East 1500 roads. The project is expected to take four weeks to complete.

For all of these projects, residents will be able to access their properties. Public Works also provides detailed notification to emergency services.

County Commissioners Patrick Kelly, Gene Dorsey and Shannon Reid are among those who attended a groundbreaking ceremony for "The Hope Project" on June 23. Those who attended the ceremony posed for a group photo.

The Hope Project to provide transitional housing for families served by Family Promise

On June 23, Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church and Family Promise of Lawrence hosted a groundbreaking for “The Hope Project” a three-story residential building in a parking lot near the corner of Ninth and Tennessee streets.

Douglas County contributed $900,000 in behavioral health sales tax funding to support this initiative, which will provide six units of transitional housing for families served by Family Promise. These are families experiencing homelessness, at-risk of homelessness or survivors of domestic violence. Construction is expected to begin in mid-July.

This project is a significant step towards achieving the goals outlined in the A Place for Everyone plan to end chronic homelessness in our community.

Breaking the cycle: Tim Shoulderblade's story of recovery and giving back

At 9 years old, Tim Shoulderblade took his first sip of beer. At 13, he started to use meth after losing both his father and older brother in the span of months.

“I lost my father figures – my role models. I started following the wrong people,” Shoulderblade said. “After that, I just spiraled.”

Shoulderblade became addicted to alcohol and drugs, which led him to dropping out of school, participating in escalating criminal activity and homelessness. For 20 years, he lived a turbulent life.

On Aug. 17, 2022, he woke up in the Douglas County Jail, charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, one felony count of robbery and a misdemeanor count of battery. That’s when he made a life-altering choice to accept treatment.

“I took an inventory of my life, and in that moment, I realized that believing I had control and knew everything wasn’t working at all,” he recalled. “I prayed to my higher power and opened myself up to take it all in. It was time.”

Fast forward two and half years, Shoulderblade, now 33, has an associate’s degree in social work from Haskell Indian Nations University. He has a full-time job, an apartment and a family. He is giving back to the community by serving on the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and providing a recovery-based program in the jail, among other ways.

“His story is a light of hope for those who struggle with substances,” said Shannon Bruegge, Douglas County Drug Court program officer. “Tim is proof that sometimes all you need is to accept the opportunity afforded to you, engage fully in the process, surrender and work the steps. I believe Tim Shoulderblade is a young man destined for greatness.”

Shoulderblade shares his story to give others hope that change is possible.

• Read the full story

Boba & Beyond has opened inside Lawrence's Central Station, Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive. Pictured, from left, are Douglas County Sustainability Manager Kim Criner-Ritchie, Boba & Beyond owner Amrutha Ravikuman, Douglas County Food Systems Specialist Connie Fitzpatrick and Douglas County Food Policy Council Chair Tyler Lindquist.

Boba & Beyond now open at Central Station

The Douglas County Food Policy Council is proud to help support local food entrepreneurs like Amrutha Ravikuman, owner of Boba & Beyond, who recently opened her second location inside Lawrence’s Central Station, located on Bob Billings Parkway at Crestline Drive.

The new site began serving customers on June 23 and is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with plans to expand hours after Aug. 11. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for noon on Thursday, July 17.

The Food Policy Council provides training, resources and mentorship to support the growth and success of local food businesses across Douglas County. They also collaborate with community partners, such as Lawrence Transit, to plan and connect with the broader local food network.

“Guided by the Douglas County Food System Plan and backed by the support of Douglas County Government and the Sustainability Office, our mission is to help businesses like Boba & Beyond thrive," Food Policy Council Chair Tyler Lindquist said. "We’re also grateful to Lawrence Transit for inviting us to help in the effort in finding a food vendor, and we congratulate Boba & Beyond on being selected as the first concessionaire."

• Lawrence Transit's news release

Sheriff warns residents to be on alert for scams

Douglas County residents have received calls from someone using the name of current and retired deputies at the Sheriff’s Office. The individuals will state someone has a warrant out for their arrest for missing a jury summons, and they would ask for an immediate payment to resolve it.

If someone presents themselves as a deputy stating you have legal issues and pressures you to immediately pay a sum of money to resolve it, they are attempting to scam you.

“We know it can be unnerving to be contacted by someone if you don’t have much experience with the legal system,” Sheriff Jay Armbrister said. “There is no harm in hanging up on someone and calling the Sheriff’s Office, your bank or another organization at its verified phone number to make sure everything is legit."

Armbrister also advises people to not answer any phone number they don’t recognize. If it’s urgent, a legitimate caller will leave a voice mail or use other verified ways to get a hold of you.

The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 785-841-0007. If you are a victim of any phone scam, please contact the Kansas Attorney General’s Office at 785-296-2215.

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center:

111 East 11th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044