Taxpayers should think about the high cost of duplication

Talk, it is said, is cheap, but unnecessary duplication of government services isn't cheap. And so it's encouraging to see that there is at least some talk in Hubbard these days of combining the Hubbard City and Hubbard Township police departments.
Hubbard City Council seems inclined to spend $4,000 on a feasibility study, which seems like a small price to pay, given that a merger could result in savings for years to come.
Township trustees seem less enthusiastic about a possible merger than some city officials, citing a satisfaction survey of township residents taken last year that included questions about possible police department mergers. Township residents were generally in favor of maintaining an independent police department.
That's not surprising. People are generally resistant to change. And it's easy to take an attitude of if it ain't broke, why fix it.
Looking ahead
Well, the best answer to that is, some day it will be broken. That's because the cost of running government is going nowhere but up. And the ability of taxpayers to pay is becoming more and more strained by the day.
Now is the time to look for ways to economize, not when expenses exceed the willingness or ability of the taxpayers to pay.
It is difficult to believe that a consolidation of the two Hubbard departments would not save money in the long run. Having two police chiefs, two administration offices, two detective bureaus and patrol cars snaking in and out of boundaries between city and township lines is obviously not the most efficient way of doing business.
We urge Hubbard officials to take a serious look at the possibility of consolidation. And we urge other subdivisions throughout the area to begin looking for ways that they can save their taxpayers' money and improve efficiency by eliminating duplication.