A quick survey of local government yields a not-too-pretty landscape.

Adams County’s circuit clerk is awaiting trial on charges of embezzlement.

Natchez’s mayor is in trouble for ignoring state directives.

A member of the Natchez Board of Aldermen is waiting for his day in court on bad check charges.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors is trying to shake off the appearance it played favorites with one of two companies seeking to locate a prison in the county.

So with all of that going on, we’re a bit baffled by something that came out of last week’s supervisors’ meeting — a plan to expand county government.

That’s right, despite all of the questionable dealings floating around among our elected gentry, the county plans to create a new commission. Its purpose will be to oversee the wastewater treatment facility at the former International Paper Co. mill. Exactly how the new authority would work isn’t clear yet, the county attorney said.

More government is exactly what Natchez-Adams County does not need, especially if it’s not clear how the new growth government will function.

The creation of the new board may be in reaction to the Natchez Water Works’ recent announcement that it seeks to expand its territory a bit outside the city limits. Wouldn’t it make sense to explore whether or not the Natchez Water Works could (or would) assume the management of the IP facility before creating more government?

At some point, soon we hope, perhaps we’ll all realize that less government, not more, is truly what’s in the best interest of taxpaying residents.

Consolidating city and county government is the best answer that we see, if for no other reason than to stop duplicating government at taxpayer expense.