The defeat of the government study referendum involving Slippery Rock Borough and Township in Tuesday’s election doesn’t mean that cooperation between the two municipalities can’t continue as in the past, or even expand.

The controversial referendum, which was viewed by many as a divisive force rather than one promoting harmony and unity, not surprisingly faced difficult odds from the get-go, especially from the perspective of township residents.

That was confirmed when township residents voted 1,268-171 against a study that ultimately could have recommended a merger. Even in the borough, the referendum question was rejected, but by a much closer margin. The vote was 347-325.

Just as it’s unlikely that Butler Township residents ever would agree to merge with the city of Butler because of the city’s problems and the city’s higher taxes, Slippery Rock Township residents regard the borough’s problems as more formidable than what the township faces. In addition, the township tax millage is much lower.

Thus, a merger will remain out of the question for the “2 Rocks” for the foreseeable future.

Besides problems and taxes, there’s also the tendency of communities and their residents to want to retain their individual identity.

Tuesday reinforced the fact that most Slippery Rock area residents are satisfied with their respective communities, their governmental umbrellas and what those units of government do for them. They see no sense exposing themselves to the “growing pains,” or perceptions of inequitable treatment of the geographical areas, that possibly would follow implementation of a merger.

But on the issue of municipal cooperation, there remain many possibilities, despite the solid defeat of the referendum question. They include the police coverage issue, which was one of the things that sparked the government study proposal; shared use of some equipment, which could produce savings for both communities and which some communities already are doing; and possibly regarding snow and ice removal, also an area of shared services for which some communities have opted.

The death of the government study, although it could have shown the benefits of being a larger community, does not represent an end, but rather a beginning.

Leaders of the two municipalities should come together to put any friction or misunderstandings aside and, rather, seek opportunities for how the two communities, working side by side, can be better despite not being one.

Slippery Rock Borough and its environs continue to be an area of growth. The prospect of a more prosperous future shouldn’t be scuttled by the controversy that surrounded the government study ballot question.