Rising fees and a 54% tax increase in the village of Fredonia spotlight something this corner has railed against for decades: the continued growing of government with a declining tax base is a formula for disaster.

During the village’s public hearing on the plan to hike water and sewer rates — by 60 cents and $1 per thousand gallons used — there was plenty of opposition voiced from those who spoke. One resident’s remarks, however, asked an important question while sending a message.

“I got rid of my land line, my cable TV I reduced, got rid of satellite radio, stopped Netflix, stopped getting trash removed,” said the resident. “What’s the village doing to reduce their rates?”

She later added, “You guys have to stop acting like you’re spending someone else’s money. It’s our money and you owe us information. You owe us that!”

Her comments are absolutely correct.

While numerous residents across the region seethe over inflation and high prices, many area governments that are too big for the populations they serve just continue to pass on their rising costs to the residents. It has not happened only in Fredonia. It has also happened in Dunkirk, which had an 84% tax increase last year; in the village of Lakewood, a 22% increase; and in Chautauqua County, which increased the amount it took in taxes last year while hoarding a $38 million surplus.

In a nutshell, the woman who addressed the Fredonia Village Board has made tough choices in her household budget to compensate for the increased costs of being a north-county resident. Passing on big tax increases — and higher fees — to residents are never tough choices.

That, unfortunately, is business as usual for municipal and educational entities.