Probably one of the best things city and county commissioners and school board members can do for low- and moderate-income Lawrence residents is to avoid or at least minimize property tax increases to fund their 2008 budgets.

There seems to be pretty broad consensus that local officials should concentrate on providing basic services and make whatever spending cuts are necessary to avoid property tax increases. If tax revenue is flat, the spending also should be flat.

While this is a practical approach, it has a cost, especially for local social services agencies that have come to depend on funding from city and county budgets. Although it’s getting tougher for local governments to carve out money to support various agencies, the needs filled by those agencies don’t diminish and, in fact, are likely to increase.

Because of a shortfall in sales tax revenue, the agencies that receive money from the city’s general fund were hit this year by an across-the-board funding cut of about 4 percent. Budget proposals under consideration get those agencies back to the same funding level approved for the current year, but no more. County commissioners also are holding the line on funding to outside agencies.

The county, for instance, declined a request from Ballard Community Center for an additional $10,000 to help people keep their utilities from being shut off. Ballard expects increased demand for those funds this winter because of higher fuel prices.

Although most taxpayers wouldn’t advocate higher city and county taxes to fund nonprofit agencies, the needs remain. That’s why this is a good time for local residents who can afford it to consider stepping up their contributions to support local agencies.

Holding the line on property taxes is important to people who are living on fixed incomes or are barely getting from paycheck to paycheck. People who could comfortably pay a higher tax rate now have the opportunity – or even the duty – to use some of that money to help fill some of the needs that tax dollars will not.

Whether it is through United Way or individual contributions to other agencies, those fortunate enough to be able should consider nudging their charitable giving upward this year. Giving a little extra to the agency of your choice is a lot more fun than paying a higher tax bill.