There is disagreement over whether Pennsylvania should end its distinction as the only state with significant natural gas production that does not tax it.

Thus, what public optimism Gov. Ed Rendell seemed to project at budget time earlier this year about the prospects of enacting such a tax can now be judged as having been woefully premature.

That was confirmed Thursday when the governor announced that the proposed tax "clearly is dead" for this year — meaning that the issue is being handed to the "new" General Assembly that will convene in January.

Consistent with what state residents have been witnessing for what might seem like forever, the Legislature and governor have failed at the basic principle of negotiation and compromise.

In Pennsylvania state government, it seems virtually nothing of significance passes through the legislative process without stubborn partisanship first displaying its ugly head.

That is the stage in which the gas tax issue currently is mired.

It was predictable that the Legislature would see no urgency in reaching an accord with Rendell in his current status as a lame-duck governor who will be leaving office in a couple of months.

What's troubling, however, is that state taxpayers are paying dearly for their elected officials to address and act upon important issues — and the "work" in Harrisburg dealing with the proposed tax provided another example of taxpayers not having gotten their money's worth.

It's to be hoped that the Nov. 2 election produces a Legislature and governor committed to working across party lines to achieve substantive results on what is before them.

In that regard, the past two years have been a terrible failure that the voters should evaluate before going to the polls next month.

Once again, the Butler City Shade Tree Commission is helping to improve the appearance of Butler by bringing attractive plants and seasonal color to city streets.Earlier this month, about 40 volunteers worked on the east end of the new Wayne Street Viaduct, planting shrubs to beautify the area near the bridge's connection to Center Avenue.Commission member Jill Kraus and scores of other volunteers, including several sets of parents and young children, worked to plant nearly 300 small bushes and then properly mulch the area. Back in April, the community group planted 12 sycamore trees on a hillside in the same South Side area.The project is part of a United Way effort that is being done in partnership with Westinghouse Electric's N-Vision A Greener Future initiative, which has a goal of planting 3,000 trees in Butler County.Landscaping and streetscape beautification such as the Shade Tree Commission project at the end of the Wayne Street bridge, as well as the group's earlier planting of perennials and shrubs and installation of a colorful sign on the south end of the General Richard Butler Bridge, help make Butler more attractive.Hanging flower baskets installed along Main Street during the summer also bring a welcome splash of color to the downtown business district.The Shade Tree Commission deserves a cheer and ongoing community support for its work.

The Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Addiction Center has taken a laudable step in adding a third facility, its second inpatient location on Old Plank Road in Butler Township.Its other site is an outpatient facility on Liberty Street in Butler.But while the Gaiser Center's commitment to helping people overcome their drug and alcohol problems is commendable, it's troubling that those problems here have worsened to the point that the Gaiser facilities that have existed up to now have been deemed inadequate to properly deal with the caseload.And, while Gaiser has a significant caseload, more troubling is the prospect of how many area people need its services but have not sought them.The new facility will enable the center to expand the number of people it can house for inpatient care to 28 from 20. That's the largest number since the center opened in 1971.Inpatient clients can stay at the center from two weeks to 90 days, depending on the severity of their problems. Clients from Butler who complete their inpatient stay can remain with the center's outpatient program. Non-county residents can be transferred to another center or to a halfway house.The Gaiser center is working hard to make positive inroads with the people who need and seek its services. However, the community would have a basis for feeling more upbeat and hopeful if Gaiser were touting the fact that its services were needed much less rather than much more.Unfortunately, there's no sign that will happen anytime soon, if ever.

Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center will provide a boost to the Island neighborhood if it is successful in its plan to build a community center on part of the Island Playground and renovate what will remain of the play area.The neighborhood should welcome revival of the plan that has existed for a number of years but never has come to fruition. Hopefully, in this attempt, the project will overcome obstacles that stymied it in the past.In response to the latest Dunbar effort, Butler Mayor Maggie Stock said, "It's a good thing that they are going to try to pursue it. I'm glad somebody's going to take the next step."The question then becomes whether Stock will go to bat on behalf of Dunbar if the community center asks the city government for physical or planning help or financial support.Regarding city financial support, Dunbar will need a strong ally, since Butler's money problems are worsening. However, it would seem that the city could provide planning support plus possibly some manpower at times to help the project move toward what Dunbar envisions.Dunbar has not yet made an official request to the city for help.Although there is no timeline for the project to begin, there is a relatively narrow window for that to occur. Perry O'Malley, executive director of the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, which owns the playground site, said Dunbar would be required to build on the site within two years or sell it back to the authority.Kate Donnelly, Dunbar executive director, said, "Our plan is to have a community forum and find out what the neighborhood and the citizens of the area would like to have."One thing is certain: The project will require much fast-track coordination and cooperation.If the project falls by the wayside this time, significant improvements to the Island Playground area could be many years away — when the Island area needs a boost sooner rather than later.