You can lead councilors to savings, but you can’t make them think.

If they did, those in Auburn wouldn’t have voted to snuff joint services. It was a decision made in a vacuum, that hints of the same betwixt their ears.

For over a decade, some of this community’s leading citizens have supported joint services as the path to better governance. They have been L-A’s business and civic leaders, the people whose everyday decisions affect local events more than those of any mayor or city councilor.

They’ve supported this idea because they think, as we do, that what’s good for us is good for government. Reluctance to change in the face of challenging times is a recipe for failure.

This opinion was forged by experience, intellect, long study and debate. Across the broad public spectrum, it echoed. Opinion polls indicated municipal collaboration – in small doses at first, leading to bigger things later – is something the people of L-A want.

So, from every cross-section examinable it seems, collaboration was a mandate for the politicians elected to serve the public interest. And yet, when presented with a chance to fulfill this obligation, councilors in Auburn assumed a stance of defiance instead.

Wonderful. They should have just tossed the $200,000 it cost to study joint services on the fire. At least it would have given heat, if not light. Right now, there’s neither.

Since there isn’t a snowball’s chance in Guatemala the council reconsiders its vote, let’s not dwell too long. Instead, let’s list the reasons why its decision has disastrous consequences.

1. Municipal revenue sharing is plunging this year under the governor’s budget. Lewiston loses $405,000, Auburn $267,000. This will hurt services now and in the future.

2. A referendum to cut Maine’s excise-tax on vehicles by 50 percent for the first five years is heading for the ballot, which, if passed, could further slash municipal funding.

3. Lewiston-Auburn’s reputation has been shaped by allegations of partnership. Rejection of collaboration now makes this reputation hollow.

4. Tax burden. Collaboration in assessing would save taxpayers $140,000. Now, it’s $0.

5. Goodwill. Many talented, dedicated people toiled for years to turn practical collaboration into reality. They are now disenfranchised and their time wasted.

6. Future collaboration is impossible or improbable. If unachievable in these conditions, with this funding, with this commission, it likely can never be done.

Collaboration could save municipal services and jobs, boost community image, empower citizens, fulfill their wishes, reduce tax burden, open the door for more effective government going forward and, oh yes, save money in the process.

Why five people in Auburn think these are bad ideas is beyond us.

But maybe we’re thinking too much of them. They probably didn’t think much at all.