A Senate committee has made it virtually certain that it will cost a penny more to mail a letter next year.

The action was taken Monday by the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee in approving postal rate increase.

After Senate passage – possibly this week – the cost of mailing a first class letter will rise from 4 cents to 5 cents; postcards, from 3 cents to 4 cents; and air mail cards, from 5 cents to 6 cents.

The Senate committee tied the rate hike to a billion dollar pay raise for 1.5 million governmental workers.

The increase, which would go into effect on Jan. 7, is anticipated to bring in an additional $437.8 million in postal revenue.