Editorial From The Gaston Gazette
January 23, 2011
When travel and technology brought globalization to reality, smart businesses found ways to cut costs, improve operations and succeed in a new economy.
When the recession hit, companies tightened their belts, reorganized, reallocated resources and found that tough times brought efficiencies to last when good times return.
As local governments prepare for another budget year, they too are coming up short on revenue, long on expenses.
What to do?
The problem is understandably tough on local politicians who would prefer to say “yes” to every request for money. Saying “yes” plays better at election time.
What’s more, local programs in general are more likely to meet the needs and desires of citizens than those originating with governments further from home. After all, who is closer to the people than those living and working among them?
The complexities of programs mandated by state and federal lawmakers further tie the hands of local elected officials and the managers who put budgets together.
A nip here and a tuck there won’t do it this year . As company leaders know well, the only way to make budgets work in these times is to look long and hard at sacred cows, honestly analyze and evaluate every piece of the operation, and come face to face with core business.
The core business of government is protecting the freedoms of its citizens. What is more basic to this protection than law enforcement?
Could it also be that law enforcement is where local governments can find smart ways to solve as least part of the problem of too little revenue and too much expense?Today on Page 1A, The Gazette looks at the climate across Gaston County for consolidation of police operations.
To be sure, no one is clamoring for a merger. Why?
Cut through the comments from officials and it comes down to turf.
The old nemesis of collaboration among Gaston County’s municipalities is no excuse for failing to examine ways to save money for taxpayers without sacrificing what is sure to be a top expectation of government: public safety.
There is good reason to explore police consolidation. Evidence shows that it works.
More than a decade ago, Bessemer City faced a financial crunch and found savings by disbanding its city police department and turning to the Gaston County Police.
Last year, Cramerton became the police department covering McAdenville. So far, so good.
With more time and experience, Bessemer City finds police consolidation much to its liking.
The county provides well-trained officers at less cost. County police work with the city on programs just as if they were city officers. A county police station is located in the City Hall. County officers are specifically assigned to Bessemer City.
In reality, it’s no different than Bessemer City having its own department – at less expense and with top quality officers.
It’s likely that additional police consolidation would result in savings with, at the least, reduced administrative, training and purchasing costs. It’s also possible that standardized practices across the county could result in savings or that the cost of real estate could be reduced.
Already our police departments work together for the good of each community, so that makes more fertile ground for exploring consolidation.
It won’t happen, however, without leadership – someone, some group to step forward, start the conversation and lead the process of determining whether a consolidated police force would be the right thing to do for the people of Gaston County who foot the bill for public safety and want the best in law enforcement.
Tough times might do the same for local government as they have done for local businesses. Improve operations while reducing costs.
Gaston County taxpayers should expect no less from their leaders than to examine this opportunity. Who will step up and take on the task?
