To the editor:

I was interesting to read the lead article (Nov. 19) about the Lawrence school board’s decision to float a $59 million bond issue for schools. One reason cited for this was that this was a good time to issue bonds because rates are low.

What the school board left unsaid was why rates are low. This was explained on the business page of the same paper, where your headlines say it all: “Spending cutbacks in store/More consumers planning to reduce holiday purchases”; “Lawrence job agency aims to help homeless”; “Lawrence hiring activity expected to be slow” and “Kmart to announce store closings in January.”

Bond rates are low because businesses are hurting and people are out of work. It is not a good time to raise taxes. But that’s government for you.

Arly Allen

Lawrence