Consolidation must be something like the polio vaccine.

Most people agree it’s a good thing, but no one wants to line up first to start the process.

So once again our fear of needles has left local governments, and therefore the taxpayers, at risk for disease — one marked by wasteful spending.

The city and county were handed the perfect opportunity to explore and enact one form of consolidation several months ago when long-time Police Chief Mike Mullins announced he would retire.

The mayor apparently considered it, going so far as to ask the sheriff whether or not he’d be willing to run the police department.

Like most of us who are asked whether we want to take on more work, the sheriff said no.

Now the idea seems on the far, far backburner again.

We wish, in hindsight, that the city had acted quickly upon Mullins decision to appoint a committee of city leaders, law enforcement and community members who could explore the idea and report back to the community.

We wish our community’s elected leaders could look past excuses and objections — like concerns that police answer to civil service while deputies do not — and seek real solutions.

But wishing gets us nowhere but the infirmary.

Our community has missed an opportunity to save money this time.

Luckily, next time will come. Let’s form a committee now and be ready.

It will only sting for a minute.