We appreciate the efforts by Lycoming County’s commissioners to thoroughly and comprehensively review personnel and expenses and reduce costs.

We cannot, as communities, foster the growth we need for the families of Lycoming County to enjoy living and working in Lycoming County by continually increasing taxes.

As we have editorialized in the past, ever-higher tax burdens discourage employers from bringing jobs to Lycoming County — or keeping jobs in Lycoming County, as communities in other states offer more competitive tax climates. Higher tax burdens discourage developers from building more housing in our county — which leaves families that would to move here or stay here with fewer options, at greater costs and while meeting fewer of the traits and characteristics that prospective buyers wants.

In turn, as employers and employees alike look elsewhere to live and work, a shrinking population has to shoulder the costs of government spending and the taxation that enables it.

We address this point in editorials fairly often — because it’s important.

Many other issues and matters of public policy are beholden to this simple reality. The choices your elected officials will make on a myriad of public affairs stem in large part from how well our region confronts the need to attract more jobs and more housing.

As such, the commissioners’ efforts to restrain government spending at the county level, detailed most recently in an article in Jan. 27’s edition of the Sun-Gazette, are pivotal. Their efforts will have an enormous impact on what municipalities and businesses and school districts and families decide about their futures — and subsequently the future of our region.

We are thankful that our county commissioners’ vision of the future is prudence and restraint when tax dollars are being spent.