The flame quickly is dying for community fire-protection funding, and future budget cuts are threatening to completely snuff it out.

Despite an act designed to allocate fire-protection money to cities with state institutions, East Lansing and 69 other Michigan communities never have received the full amount of funding designated to them. The state of Michigan needs to hold up to its end of the bargain. The fire-protection funding act was passed in 1979, which means the affected cities have dealt with more than two decades of false promises.

East Lansing is a sad example of fire-funding fallout. This fiscal year, the city only received about $440,000 of the $2 million it is supposed to be given yearly.

Budget cuts are expected to continue, especially in light of the $900 million state budget shortfall.

Bad economic times are difficult for everyone in a community, from the government to the citizens to the businesses.

But fire protection is a necessary municipality that should not be tampered with, especially in a city such as East Lansing.

As a city housing a university, East Lansing needs a fire station that is both close to campus and has the special equipment necessary for reaching residence halls and classroom buildings. The campus fire station should not be in jeopardy, but its closing is a possibility with continuing budget cuts.

The state needs to get its priorities straight and hold up to its end of the bargain.

A group of Michigan mayors is planning to meet with Gov. Jennifer Granholm within the next month to discuss the future of fire funding. People within the affected communities should rally behind their leaders and be outraged that their fire-protection funding is not up to snuff.

But many municipal services such as fire protection are overlooked, because fires are not a daily occurrence in most cities. The state's inability to fund protection is like playing with fire. It should stop before someone gets burned.