The Tribune

Without question 2013 will be another challenging year for local governments as they continue to face declining revenue and increasing expenses.Houston

Both the Lawrence County Commissioners and the Ironton City Council will have to tackle significant challenges in the year ahead. It won’t be easy and some tough decisions, many of which have been put off for years, will have to be made.

Unlike the federal government, local governments have far less ability to — and should not want to — simply kick the proverbial can down the road.

We challenge our elected officials to look at every dollar spent, every service provided, every perk given to employees.

Far too often, in all levels of government, the “sacred cows” of benefit packages, unnecessary jobs given as political favors and just general overstaffing have been the norm.

That has to change.

Citizens simply cannot absorb more taxes and fees, especially if those are simply be used to maintain a status quo that doesn’t exist in the real world of the private sector.

Our leaders need to make communication with taxpayers and complete transparency the focus of the new year. That way citizens can weigh for themselves whether or not our elected officials are truly leading or simply trying not to offend anyone.

It won’t be easy to shrink local government, but it should be looked at as the only choice.