In the struggle to balance the city's budget, Lansing officials might tell neighboring communities to pay up when Lansing firefighters and police help them out in emergencies.

Currently the fire and police departments in Lansing, East Lansing and DeWitt, and Meridian, Delta, Delhi and Lansing townships help each other out when needed.

But with Lansing in a tight fiscal situation this year with an $11 million budget deficit, Mayor Virg Bernero would like surrounding communities to pay up per emergency.

Although money is tight in Lansing, making surrounding communities pay Lansing for help in emergencies should be a last resort.

If the city were to go through with the plan and start charging surrounding communities for their help, a contract would have to be established between Lansing and surrounding communities.

What if another community decided not to charge Lansing because they thought it was wrong?

Would that mean Lansing would get money while not having to pay anyone else?

Even though Lansing officials claim they help out more because they have more manpower, East Lansing would still come to Lansing's aid, unless it made a deal, free of charge.

The East Lansing City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to continue to provide its fire and police services to local communities for free.

Besides the logistical questions, charging other communities for assistance just seems wrong.

Whatever happened to communities binding together, and offering help and support whenever possible? Is this message of selfishness what Bernero wants to send to neighboring communities?

In a perfect world, every city would have the money and support system to take care of every emergency without needing help. But that perfect world doesn't exist, and Lansing is in a mutual agreement with other communities to help out for free and they should stick to it.

East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh said he doesn't think charging other communities for aid will be beneficial. Instead, he thinks local communities need to explore consolidating services to reduce cost.

This sounds like a better solution that should be examined. If several cities are joining together to pay for one larger fire and police department, then cost might be reduced and communities would be getting adequate services.

Lansing needs to examine all of its options closely and see what else it can do to balance its budget that doesn't break agreements.

After all, East Lansing managed to balance its budget this year and last without alienating other communities.

Maybe Lansing can learn from them.