You probably guessed it was coming.

1-class stamps are going up 3 cents, from 55 to 58 cents August 29.

The debt-ridden US Postal Service Monday announced its plan that will weaken service across the country.

Community newspapers such as the Lexington County Chronicle face an increase of nearly 9%.

So far the Chronicle’s family owners have not passed multiple increases on to our subscribers that cost us thousands of dollars a year in mail costs.

The proposed new rates must be reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission. But the PRC has already granted USPS the authority to eliminate an inflationbased price cap on rates.

It gave USPS approval to charge more for mail while digital technology provides competition for delivery of mail and advertising.

Brett Wesner of the National Newspaper Association said community newspapers have been fielding months of complaints from subscribers who don’t receive their copies on time.

In most cases, these newspapers have to mail at higher 1st class rates additional copies to subscribers who did not receive their copies.

USPS pays no penalty for missed deliveries.

“These increases will require many newspapers to increase subscription prices to cover this new cost,” Wesner said.

“Readers will think we have lost our minds to charge more when USPS cannot get the paper to so many on time.”

“People in small towns across America send checks through the mail to pay their bills,” he said.

“The stamp goes up and delivery goes down. I fear that faith in the Postal Service’s ability to serve the nation will put a damper on commercial activity.”