It comes as no surprise that Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed legislation forgiving the remainder of Panama Central School’s $4.9 million fine by the state Education Department.

The veto has become an annual rite of passage along with Thanksgiving leftovers and presents under the Christmas tree. The fact that the veto isn’t surprising doesn’t mean the state policy makes any sense.

As The Post-Journal reported earlier this month, Panama wasn’t the only school district to have legislation forgiving a state fine for late paperwork or incorrectly filed paperwork be vetoed by Cuomo. In addition to Panama, the governor vetoed legislation forgiving fines for six other school districts totaling at least $10 million.

For the past several years Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, and former state Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, have been able to secure a $500,000 set-aside to pay the penalty. One wonders if other school districts in a similar position are getting the same treatment. If so, it’s an idiotic and convoluted exercise in stupidity to have one state agency issue a fine and another branch of state government pay the fine. It seems to us the fines shouldn’t have been issued in the first place.

It also seems fairly obvious that one reason the state spends the most in the nation on education per pupil has secured that dubious distinction in part because local school districts find themselves forced to have additional people on staff to follow the state’s arcane and byzantine rules for spending your money on building projects or to transport students from your home to the school your child attends. Perhaps schools would have more money to spend educating your children if they could spend less money complying with the state’s reporting regulations.

It’s something New York’s next permanent education commissioner and the Board of Regents should consider.