To the editor:

It was very gratifying to read in the newspaper and see on TV that the head of the state Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will request funding for the Lawrence SRS operation in 2012 and not wait until 2013 to do so. Mr. Siedlecki could also make a good-faith effort to save some tax dollars while the Lawrence SRS operation continues to function.

There are two buildings at the SRS complex. People familiar with the work areas in the two buildings say that the smaller of the two (or annex) building is very underutilized due to normal employee attrition and transfers. These vacancies have not been filled due to prior budget cuts. The remaining employees in the smaller building could easily move into the larger, thereby hopefully reducing the $225,000 a year rent by at least one-third, or $75,000. I would doubt that 10 or more years ago, when those buildings were built, that they cost a lot more than $450,000. The owner has easily recouped his investment and made a good profit.