Advice to Butler residents to pay attention to the city's financial plight might seem painfully obvious. That's because the city has been wrestling with money issues throughout this decade — and the municipality's money trouble extends back to when businesses began their exodus to suburban malls and shopping centers about four decades ago.

But while the city has been able to keep its financial head above water — barely — during all the years of fiscal challenge, thanks in part to tax increases and delaying important work, the city is on a collision course with financial disaster. The city could be bankrupt in three years, say current and former officials, if the situation is not brought under control.

And, tough decisions cannot wait three years. Such decisions must be made sooner rather than later, prehaps even this year, and those decisions must be based on a committed-to strategy by all of the city's elected leaders, no matter how unpalatable and painful the remedies might be.

This is the time for leadership to step forward, and it's also time for city residents and city employees to become more involved in the exercise on which the city's future depends.

To do nothing — to hand off the issue to the next city council — is not the option some councils of the past have believed it to be. Those city leaders without the spine to acknowledge the fate toward which the city is headed — and who also don't have any alternative ideas for improving the financial mess — should stay out of the discussion, paving the way for others who hopefully will have the kind of courage and financial management skills that are needed now.

Then there's the issue of city residents — residents who, like those in most other municipalities, don't pay attention to the workings of their municipal government until something goes wrong.

But for Butler, something has gone wrong — terribly wrong — and the problem demands city residents' interest, involvement and understanding. That's why advice that residents pay attention, while being obvious, is by no means unimportant.

The question is whether that involvement will begin today, in response to two front-page articles in Sunday's Butler Eagle: "Deficits drain city's safety net" and "City council mulls distressed status."

Those reports dealing with the city's financial crisis said representatives of the state Department of Community and Economic Development will attend a city council meeting at 6 p.m. today at the city building, 140 W. North St., on the issue of whether the city should file for financially distressed status.

Attendance at that meeting should be so heavy that it spills out into the street, but a reasonable question is whether even a handful of residents will show up to hear the discussion.

While financially distressed status could represent an answer for the city, it also carries with it the potential to be detrimental in terms of attracting new businesses as well as new residents. It also carries the possibility of even higher taxes for already overtaxed city residents.

If possible, prior to the meeting, residents should read or re-read Sunday's articles to better understand all that's at stake. This also is the time for lawmakers representing Butler County to gain a full understanding of the city's fiscal plight, to serve as a basis for brainstorming possible revenue solutions that could emanate from Harrisburg.

But at this time, the important thing is for everyone to get on the same page regarding the city's impending financial disaster. Today's meeting represents an important start.

Nothing good can happen if this opportunity is squandered. The issue can no longer be ignored.