Rate increases should be avoided

To the editor:

The suggested new water and sewer rates would be damaging for Portland.

They will cripple many that already have struggles.

Recently, The Commercial Review ran a series on children in poverty in Jay County. If child poverty is high, then it is reasonable to believe that poverty is high.

I don't remember the exact numbers of the sewer rate increases, but I do remember that they are projected to be major increases. This will hurt all, including renters, as their rent will increase due to the rate increases.

Portland is having enough problems.

Judge Haynes Elementary School is projected to close in the near future, due to loss of students/population. Marsh supermarket not only closed the Portland store, but went into bankruptcy, and is being sold, in part.

Those are examples of the difficulties in Portland.

The raising of water and sewage rates may cause another negative impact on the area.

I received an email from State Rep. Greg Beumer. He spoke about Federal Community Development Block Grants, which will be open to apply for until July 7. This is an option to consider, as are other options.

The rate increase should be avoided at the level that has been proposed, as it may cause more increases if the hurt from the increases causes Portland to lose population.

The contact information in the email was: Additional questions can be directed to our Office of Community and Rural Affairs community liaison Susie Ripley at (317) 416-3281 or [email protected].

Daniel E. Chase

Portland