The Sampson County Board of Commissioners are right to continue on with the Western District Park. Members should be applauded for thinking this decision through and realizing that abandoning the still-under-construction park would be both a fiscal boondoggle and a tremendous blow to the western Sampson County town.

It’s a shame Roseboro officials didn’t understand the same thing as it pertains to its current funding of existing programs within the town’s recreation offerings.

In fact, we’re not sure what Roseboro officials are thinking, basically reneging on their commitment to be a financial participant in current park programs, handing yet another burden over to commissioners, who are already picking up a large chunck of the tab for the Western District Park.

Last week, commissioners were faced with a decision on the park after hearing that Roseboro’s intent was to pays its $25,000 share for the park program this year, but then pull out of the financial pact next year.

Interim county manager Rick Moorefield, however, incorrectly informed commissioners about Roseboro’s participation. In fact, town mayor Roland Hall said it was current park programs that the town could no longer afford to help fund.

But even that leaves us wondering and commissioners likely holding the financial bag.

Had commissioners decided, as Roseboro officials did, to wash their hands of even a portion of the town’s recreation, it would have virtually been like tossing $480,000 into a trash pile and setting fire to the loot.

This county can ill afford to be that frivolous with its finances, and commissioners recognized both their financial responsibility to the project and the considerable investment they’d be tossing into the wind if they just turned their back on the park.

Hall said last week that the town opted out of its financial commitment because of the need for both a fire truck and a well to be dug.

While we can understand those needs, we don’t understand how town officials can simply drop its responsibilities and expect someone else to pick up the tab. While Roseboro board members haven’t said that in so many words, their actions, in this case speak volumes.

By looking for commissioners to pay for use of the Roseboro community building, which houses the county’s nutrition program for that area and giving up both the afterschool care program and the summer camp, one has to wonder will the Western District Park be next.

How can the town afford new recreation when it can’t afford what it currently offers?

While we understand that tough economic times call for tough measures, we can’t quite fathom the Roseboro board’s thinking on these issues. After all, Hall and his board are reasonable, honorable men, with great compassion for the town and its people.

But their actions regarding recreation aren’t so reasonable.

County commissioners are to be commended for taking the high road on this issue, even though the additional financial burden is one they shouldn’t have to bear.

But commissioners saw the big picture and understand that backing out now would be both unwise and fiscally foolish.

It’s a shame the Roseboro board couldn’t see the same.