In general government is like salt and pepper, having less of it is generally better than too much.

Adams County Supervisor Mike Lazarus obviously feels the same way and seems to have the voters — not his own politics — in mind on his latest public policy endeavor.

Lazarus has expressed an interest in pursuing the idea of consolidating the governments of the City of Natchez and Adams County into one entity.

Logic tells us that having less duplication — one purchasing system, one road department and one law enforcement agency, for examples — would certainly lead to reduced costs for county residents.

The process is a complicated one that requires the state Legislature first to allow it before the matter ultimately would be put on the ballot for county voters to decide.

Essentially, what Lazarus is seeking is simply to get legislative approval, the first step before giving the people of Adams County the right to choose whether or not consolidated government is a better option.

Voters will be watching carefully to see how our local elected officials vote on giving the power to decide back to the people.

It’s quite likely that many of the long-time supervisors and aldermen will bring up lots of excuses why such a plan will not work.

If they do that, voters should ask themselves:

Are they really representing my best interest by not allowing the process to go forward and eventually come to a vote?

Or are they simply protecting their own political power?

Voters provided a clear mandate on the issue of recreation, giving clarity to purpose that had been lacking for decades.

We hope that same, common sense, grassroots level of support can be found for getting the first step of consolidation under way.