To the editor:

I don’t know about anyone else, but my pocketbook is getting a little empty. My spouse hasn’t had a raise in five years. We have so many increases: water, gas, taxes in general, school bus, school supplies. Then I see so much money being mishandled. For instance, the roundabouts. We don’t fix the potholes in the road but we can spend thousands putting a roundabout in instead of a stop sign. I see schools wanting to build but we close schools and then we put a hold on teachers’ raises.

The gas companies raise the price of gasoline and then rub it in our face about what a great profit they have made. When the city or government can’t handle their money problems they come back to the consumers, what about US, who’s going to help us pay our bills. Does no one listen? I have budgeted down to the last penny, I can’t budget any more. When does it STOP?

Vicky Shurtz,

Lawrence