Postal rates could rise nearly 25% for in-county newspapers in May 2007 if the United States Postal Service has its way, and further annual increases are in store, the National Newspaper Association (NNA) revealed today.

USPS announced this morning that it intends a larger rate hike for local newspapers than for virtually any other mail class, NNA declared. The proposed increase is the highest in more than a decade. The announcement came with the filing of proposed rate increases for all mail, including a 42 cent first-class stamp. Rates would be expected to go into effect around May 2007.

“National Newspaper Association vigorously opposes this increase,” Jerry L. Reppert, NNA president and publisher of the Anna (IL) Gazette-Democrat, said in a statement. “This has to be one of the saddest days in the history of community newspapers and the Postal Service, which has always been one of our strongest partners. USPS seems to be saying our mail is no longer desirable because newspapers are shaped like newspapers and have to be transported in containers that the Postal Service no longer wants to use.

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