Here’s why rates are about to change

Randy Keck

Rightly or wrongly I have always felt we have the best newspaper in Parker County - and I hope you agree.

Over the last few months I have had reason to re-think some of the principles we have operated under since the advent of online news production. My mindset has always been that what is being paid for is the content, not the medium, and therefore we set print and online subscription rates the same.

From the standpoint of looking at expenses, the largest expense for any good newspaper will be payroll. Paying reporters and photographers is necessary to produce that information we share each week in print and online.

That said, we have also experienced an unpleasant reality of life in the digital age. As mail volume decreases, for example, the U.S. Post Office has found it necessary to impose a number of rate increases on mailing newspapers as well as regular mailing.

We have absorbed at least a couple of recent postal rate increases.

In addition, we have absorbed two printing rate increases within the last two years — the latest one being 17%.

The above factors have led us to revise our subscription rates to compensate for the increased costs we have experienced.

Therefore, effective May 1, print subscription rates will rise from $29 to $37 per year, with multi-year subscriptions increasing by a similar percentage.

In addition, the cover price of the newspaper will rise from 75¢ to $1 per single copy.

The online-only rate will remain at $29 per year.

We are also adding a monthly online-only rate of $3 per month for folks who would like to pay a little at a time.

There are a couple of silver linings here if you want to look at the glass half full rather than half empty.

First, we will still have the lowest subscription price in Parker County!

Second, you can add up to three years on your current (or new) subscription at the current rates up until May 1. To do so, just give us a call or visit www.community-news.com/subscribe/.

We appreciate your readership and look forward to continuing to serve you.