Here is one more example of how the government frivolously spends your money. It happened — unsurprisingly — in the village of Fredonia that two years ago increased taxes 54% after years of overspending.

In the spring, to the surprise of many, by a 3-1 vote the trustees terminated Department of Public Works Supervisor Dave Bird. No reason was given for the decision, which is a standard practice, but then costs for the village went up.

How?

Bird was earning in the position around $57,000 per year — considerably less than the $92,138 paid to Scott Marsh who held the post until last fall. In hiring a replacement for Bird, the village brought in retiree Jenness Merrill — who is already receiving a pension — at $36 an hour. That is $8 more than Bird was making.

Part of the financial troubles in the village stem from overstaffing. It is no different in the city of Dunkirk, which is in even worse fiscal shape.

If every penny matters, like Trustee LeeAnn Lazarony pointed out in February when the village was billed $3.33 for a bottle of antacids, why is she allowing the village to throw money at a position — $320 more per week? That is a big bump when compared to one lousy $3 purchase that became a big deal in her eyes.

Lazarony wants residents to believe she’s looking out for the village pocketbooks. But a recent pay bump of 31% is nowhere near frugal.