To the editor:

I very much enjoyed the question-and-answer session by the candidates for our City Commission that was held at the Dole Center last week. I appreciated the efforts by all concerned to make this type of forum available to the voters. Many interesting issues facing the city were addressed.

I cannot help but be concerned, however, with the issues not raised. There was not one question that addressed fiscal responsibility or priorities. Many of the candidates offered ambitious agendas in responding to one or more of the “hot button” issues raised. The fact that those responses taken in the aggregate could significantly increase our taxes did not trigger further exploration.

Lawrence has a long history of raising taxes at a rate considerably in excess of inflation in order to address “needs” similar to those brought forward at the forum. I can’t help but wonder if we plan to continue to do so forever. If I understand the statistics available, the average employee is not experiencing income gains much in excess of inflation. It would seem that continued growth in our taxes at rates exceeding inflation would ultimately price the middle class out of our city.

George Lippencott,

Lawrence