Too often, we look to New York state government for money to help solve our problems.

One of those problems has been the merger of local governments and school districts. We still don’t think the state has been proactive enough on that front, particularly after the 2008-09 Lundine Commission’s recommendations focused on local government consolidation. And we’ve been critical in the past of the county not pushing harder when it comes to shared services proposals.

So it’s hard to criticize County Executive PJ Wendel for finding county money to help with two current merger proposals. The Chautauqua County Legislature voted to give $100,000 to support the Clymer Sherman Panama Merger Feasibility Study Project as the three schools evaluate a merger to address rising operational costs, declining enrollment, and the need for expanded educational opportunities. The legislature also voted to give $50,000 to the town of Pomfret so it can explore sharing and consolidating services with the village of Fredonia, town of Dunkirk, city of Dunkirk, and town of Sheridan. Arkwright was not listed but was mentioned by Pomfret officials previously.

Items listed in the resolution under consideration include consolidating highway departments, sharing a dog control officer, and having a single code enforcement office. Wendel has met with various north county leaders, encouraging them to go further and explore merging into a single governmental entity.

The only real issue that has been raised is where the money is coming from. Wendel told lawmakers he wanted to have the $500,000 available from the county’s balance for the Government Reduction Initiative. Some legislators, including Jamestown’s Fred Larson, wanted the money included in the budget. Ideally, the money would have been in the budget, especially if this is going to be a continuing program as we begin to hopefully put local government on a diet. We have a feeling accountants would feel the same way. But we don’t think the general public really cares.

The executive has been very public about how he wants to spend this portion of the county’s surplus, the money is being tracked and it’s being used for a good purpose.

If the county’s support results in a better provision of services in the north county and of education in three rural school districts, no one will care which bank account the county took the money from.