Thank goodness we live in Selma right now. Thank goodness our local politicians haven’t taken a look at the poor economic conditions of this area and decided to heave a bunch of taxes on us.

Earlier this week, the Montgomery County Commission levied a new, 1.5-percent tax on those who work in Montgomery. In specific terms, it’s called an occupational tax. In actuality, it’s called taxing people who have jobs.

On top of that, the good people on the Montgomery City Council are considering another tax on the citizens of our neighbors.

There’s no question that everyone could use a little more money these days. Bill Gates, for that matter, likely could find a way to use a few more billion.

What politicians seem to have forgotten is that when local economies struggle, that doesn’t just mean governmental agencies struggle. Hard working citizens, some who make a good living, have tough times when the economy sours. Those items we want, and believe we deserve because we’ve worked hard, aren’t available when money runs short.

There are numerous people who live in Selma and Dallas County but who work in Montgomery County. We wish it were as easy as telling those people to come back home and work here. We know that isn’t an option for some of those those who must commute to work every day.

But to our local politicians, and for those people who work in Selma and Dallas County, we ask that you not go the way of Montgomery politicians.

Economic times, though they may be tough for government right now, are not any easier for those of us who work every day to put food on the table. Placing a tax on us because we have jobs almost sounds ludicrous.

If ever there were a time for bureaucrats to slim down a bit, now would be the time. Montgomery politicians believe a poor economy only hurts government operations, and they believe now is the time to take from their taxpayers’ pockets. They are wrong.

We shouldn’t make the same mistake here.