logo
Log In Subscribe e-Edition Archives
logo
Log In Subscribe e-Edition Archives
Google Play App Store
  • News
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Photo Gallery
  • Columns/Opinions
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
  • Special Sections
    • News
    • Sports
    • Lifestyle
    • Photo Gallery
    • Columns/Opinions
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
    • Public Notices
    • Special Sections
News
Submitted Article on
October 18, 2023
NNA: New Postal Rates “Punitive”

The proposed Jan. 21, 2024, postage increase for community newspapers is nearly four times the rate increase proposed for other users of the mail. In an announcement last Friday, the United States Postal Service announced it expected a 7.3 percent increase for the local “Within County” mailing rate for newspapers.

The average proposed increase for First-Class mail is 1.9 percent, even though the First-Class stamp rate would rise by two cents to $.68. The proposed increase for advertising mail is also 1.9 percent, though the increase within that mail class used by local newspapers to distribute shoppers and other advertising mail increases ranging from 2.1 to 3.9 percent, depending upon mail density. The rate for Periodicals mail destined for outside the publisher’s county would settle at a more modest 1.59 percent. That rate is also used by national magazines and other national publications.

USPS is permitted to increase rates without direct approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission, although the PRC is required to review the proposed rates for illegalities and calculation errors.

The increase is intended as the first half of a semi-annual increase and to go into effect January 21, 2024.

National Newspaper Association Chair John Galer, publisher of The Journal- News in Hillsboro, Illinois, said the dramatic rate increase for local news-papers was a shock.

“It certainly seems as if the Postal Service wants to discourage newspapers from using the mail. At a time when local journalism is already in peril and more newspapers are using the mail to reach subscribers, this increase is simply punitive,” Galer said. “We expect both our subscribers and other stakeholders in our community to push back at the subscription increases that will be made necessary by the Postal Service’s action.”

Ironically, the Postal Service’s principal justification for the steep increase is that the PRC now requires USPS to share more of the savings created when publishers do some of the work that postal workers would otherwise have to do, such as presorting the mail and transporting it to destination post offices. Traditionally, USPS has shared far less than 100 percent of the savings when it passes along mail discounts.

But because PRC is pushing the postal system to be more generous in sharing the savings, USPS is simply raising the basic rate so it can show a more acceptable discount.

“Raising our prices so it can claim it is creating a fair discount is the sort of math we associate with shady deals,” Galer said. “Our industry has been doing a lot of mail preparation work for years tohelp keep postal costs down. For us to now be punished for that work simply adds outrage to our disappointment.”

The Postal Service is now guided by the Delivering For America plan introduced by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to help the Postal Service compete for the package and parcel business. Twice-a-year postage increases have been part of the DFA plan, which allows USPS to raise rates to the fullest extent allowed above inflation.

The details of the postal rate announcement are available on the PRC’s website at PortalPrc (arkcase.com).

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
It might also interest you...
LEAP and State Testing Results Reveal LaSalle Maintaining Strong Levels
A: Main, News
LEAP and State Testing Results Reveal LaSalle Maintaining Strong Levels
By Craig Franklin Editor 
July 16, 2025
“I’m proud of the fact that you can drive 100 miles in any direction from here and not find a school system that outperformed us,” LaSalle Parish Scho...
this is a test
2025 Legislative Session Recap
A: Main, News
2025 Legislative Session Recap
Part 3 of 3
By Craig Franklin Editor 
July 16, 2025
Part 3 of 3: District 20 Rep. Neil Riser (EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third of a three-part series featuring LaSalle Parish’s State Legislative Delegat...
this is a test
Plans for the Jena Skatepark are Rolling!
A: Main, News
Plans for the Jena Skatepark are Rolling!
By Reagan Franklin Assistant Editor 
July 16, 2025
Four locals have joined together under one mission: bring a skatepark to Jena. Hailey Lovasz, Daniel Aymond, Jeremy Smith and David Nealy form a small...
this is a test
Olla Accepts Low Bid For Sewer Project
A: Main, News
By Reagan Franklin Assistant Editor Olla Accepts Low Bid For Sewer Project
Olla Accepts Low Bid For Sewer Project
July 16, 2025
Womack & Sons Construction Group was awarded the contract for Olla’s new wastewater treatment plant as the Olla Town Council unanimously voted to acce...
this is a test
Urania Seeks Grant for Ground Storage Tank
News
Urania Seeks Grant for Ground Storage Tank
By Reagan Franklin Assistant Editor 
July 16, 2025
Urania is seeking funding for the refurbishment of one of its ground storage tanks through a grant with LITACorp (Louisiana Infrastructure Technical A...
this is a test
LaSalle Arrests
News
LaSalle Arrests
wlf.la.gov
July 16, 2025
The following individuals were arrested and booked into the LaSalle Parish Jail during the previous week: Daniel Howard Morton, 40, of Natchitoches, w...
this is a test
ACE Circular
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ACE Circular
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Search Public Notices

The Jena Times
OLLA-TULLOS-URANIA SIGNAL
P: (318) 992-4121

Office Hours:
Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm
Sat-Sun, Closed

This site complies with ADA requirements

© The Jena Times

  • Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Privacy Accessibility Policy