To the editor:

Just what are our civic leaders smoking? Increasing taxes in a recession? They need to understand that we don’t have any more money to give them. That’s why our per capita spending is lower than cities of similar size. Take more in taxes and we will spend even less. Better they should set their budget at 90 percent of last year’s revenue and live with in the income they have. Yes, that means delaying projects and reducing the services that are currently addressed. But read my lips, “WE DON’T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO GIVE YOU.”

Don’t give us that line: “We have cut our services to the bone.” We, the taxpaying public, are the ones cutting our budgets every day and deferring necessary items until we can afford them. We say: “No” to the library expansion, “no” to the school district tax hike, “no” to the county tax hike, and “no” to any more debt. We get to enjoy paying 9 cents (in some cases 10 cents) on every dollar spent in sales tax now and it does take a toll on what we can afford.

We are the ones earning substantially less than other communities like Lawrence. We are the ones who have to choose between necessities and discretionary items. We are the ones nursing that car and appliance another year. We are the ones juggling the increases in utilities and city service bills. Enough! We don’t have any more money to give you.

Ken Meyer,

Lawrence