You would almost think one of the criteria to be an elected official would be the ability to whine. So often, instead of seeking solutions, they give constituents the woe is us story on how their village or town is a victim of uncontrolled circumstances.

Last month, however, the Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corp. looked for alternatives for problems many of its member entities deal with on an annual basis: the rising cost of health care. The group invited Don Barber, executive director of the Greater Tompkins County Health Consortium, to discuss how it handles health care costs.

Its effort follows the attitude of there being strength in numbers. Following that premise, Tompkins County moved from purchasing private-sector insurance for its employees to becoming an Article 47 Insurance Consortium.

“The cost of health insurance is going up much faster than the property tax cap or anything else, including the Consumer Price Index,” Barber told the group. “That’s why we formed. And the reason we formed an Article 47 is because it was the only vehicle for the small municipalities to join. There’s nothing else. There’s no other way in New York state for a municipality to join in a risk pool with others.”

Results from the change have shown on the balance sheets. Since 2011, more than $5 million in savings to the governments involved have been realized.

Tompkins County, we must note, is one of the few upstate counties that have shown growth in terms of economy and population since 1980. Part of their success is due to how well governments work together.

Annually, residents hear how tight spending plans for our local governments are. Here is a real cost-savings solution to a significant problem that can be dealt with locally.