To the editor:

As I drove the perimeter of the proposed “urban” growth area, I was struck by its actual size. I wondered if the T would expand its route to Wells Overlook, Twin Oaks driving range or the intersection of 1057 and 458 roads. Would the current residents receive improved road maintenance, fire-police-emergency services or any other city service? Not likely.

The T can’t make a dent in its budget now. Almost every city department indicated that it did not have sufficient funds to handle its current workload or staff requirements at the recent budget discussions. Did they get the funding that they needed? No, they got an unfunded mandate to provide a “living wage” from their already short budgets.

Will these property owners get to fork over $30,000 to $50,000 to hook up to city services when their septic systems are declared obsolete? Will they be required to pay additional fees as benefit districts to pay for road and drainage improvements? Most likely, given the city’s history with past annexed areas.

This proposed expansion will benefit a few developers and speculators but will only burden the property owners within this area with taxes to feed Lawrence’s ever-growing appetite for amenities it can’t afford. Many Lawrence homeowners worry about their ability to keep their homes in the face of ever-increasing assessments and tax rates. This expansion of Lawrence will only add to that group. Lawrence should be kept within its boundaries and should learn to live within its means.

Ken Meyer,

Lawrence