Forestville took the money last year, but did not get the message.

The village of about 700 residents, which was mismanaged so poorly in recent years that it proposed a 445 percent property tax rate increase in February 2014, was supposed to begin a dissolution study as part of a loan agreement with Chautauqua County. Because of that deal, the county – in good faith – gave the village $150,000 and taxes in the village were raised only 112 percent.

In return, the village had to pay back the loan and do a dissolution study.

Instead, Forestville has continued to operate as though it is moving forward. It is hiring an engineer for one of its municipal roofs. It has sold timber for revenue, which we applaud.

But when the village was in a dire financial state and nowhere to go, it came begging to Chautauqua County to help bail it out.

In typical fashion – just like a vote on a sales-tax increase – the county legislators voted for it.

One year later, Forestville has not kept its part of the bargain on the dissolution study. And Chautauqua County government is now powerless in making it happen.