To the editor:

The recent article on the 0.8-mill levy increase (LJ-W, July 18) reports that “the median value of a home in Lawrence is $127,000. The owner of such a home would thus see a rise in the city portion of their tax bill grow from $361.77 to $373.45.” However, this would only be accurate if the valuation of the house did not change. In the past, housing valuations have grown at about 7 percent per year. Assuming valuations next year grow by only 5 percent, then the owner of such a home would see their tax bill grow from $361.77 to about $392.12, or slightly more than an 8 percent tax increase.

Every year I have asked the city commissioners, the Lawrence Home Builders Assn. and others to demonstrate that growth is paying its way. Every year they wave their arms and say they “believe” that it is. And every year property taxes increase faster than the rate of inflation plus growth.

Larry Kipp,

Lawrence