It met with little discussion and absolutely no action, but Roseboro town commissioner David Alexander’s idea to cut board members pay is a good one. And for many reasons.

At a meeting earlier this week to search for funding sources that would pay for two much needed town projects, Alexander suggested commissioners reduce their salaries by 10 percent.

For mayor Roland Hall, that would amount to approximately $72 per month of the $772.50 he earns; commissioners, who bring home $551 per quarter, would be giving up $55 in that same time period.

While in the scheme of the $375,000 needed to fund the town’s portion of the purchase of a fire truck and a water well, it’s only a mere slice of the pie, it’s the principle of the idea that counts.

With the town giving serious consideration to eliminating its funding for recreation in Roseboro, seeking county dollars instead, agreeing to a pay cut would show citizens that commissioners are willing to do their part in tough economic times.

And, it shows a good faith attempt to do a remarkably unselfish thing to help the town they serve.

It’s a good example of government truly at work for the people, and we applaud Alexander for thinking of the idea and presenting it to his colleagues on the board.

Now it’s up to Hall and the rest of the commissioners to determine if the idea will become a reality.

The lack of discussion Monday night might be a clear indication that officials aren’t all that crazy about the idea; however it could simply mean that Hall and the other commissioners wanted time to let this idea sink in before acting on it.

We hope it is the latter and not the former that is a correct assessment of the situation. Time, though, will tell.

We urge town officials to seriously consider Alexander’s idea, understanding that such a selfless act would likely go a long way in helping sell the other less appealing suggestions that are being batted around as cost-saving efforts that will help them fund those two needed projects.

We hate to see Roseboro cut its recreation funding, but we also know town officials wouldn’t even consider doing it if it weren’t a necessity.

But, at the very least, if they were taking a pay cut themselves to ensure the fire truck and the well are funded, it would show a sense of unity that would be difficult to criticize.

Board members have a decision to make. They can choose not to discuss Alexander’s idea again and move forward with other plans or they can take a serious look at the idea, realize its merits and vote on it.

We hope the vote is taken.