To the editor:

The Lawrence City Commission continues to review options to expand utility assistance programs. They have failed to look at the root cause. Rates are too high for all of us. One proposal would add a new city position to administer an expanding internal program. This proposal would add more cost to those households that are not subsidized by assistance programs.

Commission Amber Sellers stated, “I would like to see us take a deep dive into this.” Why don’t we take a deep dive into rates that will be increasing on average 10% over the next three years? The commission has accepted as fact that there is no cost reduction remedy for increases that will outpace inflation that is already a strain for the average household.

The use of ARPA funds was also suggested. Using one-time funding for a systemic problem that will not go away in a year or two will result in even higher increases in utility rates in the future.

We need a better solution.

Rob Chestnut,

Lawrence