Sweeping changes in Vidalia town government’s representatives — a new mayor, police chief and nearly entirely new board of aldermen — have meant significant changes for the town in recent months.

When new Mayor Buz Craft and others took office in July, they all quickly realized the town had some financial problems that required quick attention.

The town sought state permission to borrow millions, as necessary, to pay down some of the most immediate, most pressing debts.

Town leaders quickly set about making a number of staff changes, ultimately reducing the town’s workforce by more than 10 percent.

The work, Craft says, will save the town approximately $900,000 annually. While eliminating jobs is never easy or fun, in Vidalia’s case, it seems necessary given the town’s recent record of deficit spending.

Besides, the purpose of government is to serve the public good, not employ people.

Many of the employees that were on the town’s payroll, leaders say, seemed a little less than clear on what they were supposed to do on a daily basis. That’s management 101, but apparently was necessary. Job descriptions and responsibilities needed to be created or clarified and then communicated to all.

We applaud the town’s leadership for quickly working to get their collective hands around the municipality’s spending issues.

We look for more good things to come from Vidalia as the town’s financial direction is cleaned up and clarified.