Collinsville Police and city leaders deserve praise after figuring out how to save $63,000 a year while putting two more cops on the street.

We use plenty of ink harping on governments to act like they are spending money they personally had to earn, to stop asking for more money to provide the same services and to operate like businesses that must be efficient and serve the needs of customers. This initiative led by Collinsville Police Chief Eric Van Hook appears to achieve those goals.

A promotion, a cut and shifting duties to a civilian helped them reorganize to put two more officers on patrol and better cover shifts so they should save overtime. That benefit alone would have been solid, but saving taxpayers $63,000 a year is golden.

Looking for efficiencies should be a constant goal for public servants. It too often is a forced necessity when revenues are short or when government leaders want to spend tax money on something else.

We hope Collinsville's example is followed elsewhere.