Starting Monday, first class stamps will cost 41 cents
BY LELAND ACKER

The United States Postal Service has announced postal rates will increase across the board beginning May14. Rusk Postmaster Ron Williams said the increase is due to increased operating costs.

"Everything is going up," he said. "We are not subsidized by the government, so we have to pay our own way."

Most customers will be affected by the increase in first class postage, from 39 to 41 cents. Mr. Williams pointed out that postage on the second ounce will decrease from 23 cents to 17 cents.

For example, under the old prices, a two-ounce letter would cost 39 cents for the first ounce and 23 cents for the second ounce. The total postage would have been 62 cents. Under the new pricing, the first ounce will cost 41 cents and the second ounce will cost 17 cents. The total price to mail a two-ounce letter will be 58 cents.

Mr. Williams recommended that postal customers purchase the forever stamp.

"If you buy the forever stamp, you can use it forever," he said, explaining how purchasing the forever stamp locks in your postal rates until the stamps run out. Customers who use forever stamps will not have to add postage to their letters if postal rates increase.

"Suppose I bought 100 forever stamps," Mr. Williams said. "If something happened to me, and 20 years down the road my grandkids found them, they could use them to send mail without paying additional postage."

Mr. Williams said there is no additional charge to purchasing forever stamps.

Most East Texas residents who responded to an East Texas Poll, which is an unscientific poll conducted by email to Cherokeean Herald subscribers, opposed the rate increases.

Those who supported the increases said they understood the postal service's need to do so.

"With the increasing gasoline prices, it is costing them more for deliveries," said Debbie Miller of Cushing. "Everything else is increasing because of the gas hikes, so it is understandable that the postal system would have to do likewise."

Amy Derrington of Rusk said stamps are less expensive than gasoline.

"How far can you get on 39 cents?" she asked. "I don't see a problem with the increase."

Jim Harper of Gallatin said while he understands the need to increase rates, he still opposes the rate increase.

"The continual rise in rates present difficulty for persons on fixed income and others dealing with rising costs in all other areas such as utilities and fuel," Mr. Harper said.

Those who opposed the increase did so because they say service did not get better and the increase is unjustified.

Stella Dupree of Lufkin said, "Stamps are outrageous now. I pay my bills online to save the extra costs."

Leroy Richardson of Longview said he did not feel like the service from the postal service deserved an increase in rates.

"If service had been better, then the rate increase would be justified," he said.

The increased postal rates go into effect Monday, May 14.