It's good that Butler City Council hasn't started publicly speculating about the prospects for a 2009 property tax reduction in response to the estimated $1.2 million surplus that is being carried over from 2007. The city's needs are too great to justify any such reduction for the foreseeable future.

Besides, state distressed-city status, although so far averted, still remains a painful reminder that local leaders will have to be very careful in how they spend the city's money, always ensuring that there are enough funds available to handle an emergency, should one occur.

That doesn't mean leaders should ignore the city's needs, probably the most pressing of which is the badly deteriorated condition of so many streets.

Likewise, with finances looking brighter, city leaders should at least consider reopening the Memorial Park Pool.

An article in Sunday's Butler Eagle indicated that the city could allocate some of the surplus money toward fixing the South Monroe Street Bridge; buying a new fire truck; retaining the police department's desk sergeant position, which the council decided in July to eliminate; and repairing and reopening the pool.

But if the council ignores the streets, many of which need resurfaced rather than patching, which most times is temporary at best, city leaders will have done a disservice not only to residents, but to anyone else who travels in the city.

Butler shouldn't present itself as being locked in a permanent state of distress or decline, but unfortunately many of its streets do project that image.

Why residents of North Monroe, Broad, Cleveland and Mercer streets — just four prominent examples of the deplorable conditions that exist — don't regularly attend council meetings to demand remedial action is puzzling. The poor condition of so many streets negatively impacts property values and people's desire to live in those blocks; residents should end their complacency over the absence of regular maintenance and more-durable repairs.

In some neighborhoods, it is time to replace the heaved brick streets with modern asphalt paving to upgrade the appearance and travel in those neighborhoods.

A $1.2 million surplus can't make a big dent in what this city needs in any particular year. Even with determination to get a substantial amount of work done every year, and even if the city continues to record million- dollar annual surpluses, catching up with the city's current needs will involve more than a decade of well-managed effort.

Unfortunately, the city endured a string of decades when little was done to address street, bridge, municipal pool and other needs. What exists now in so many neighborhoods reflects the poor management of the past, including the bad decision of a few years ago when a small tax reduction was approved.

Tax reductions are appropriate where needs are being met. And though taxpayers and voters appreciate a tax reduction, this city's needs are too great at this time.

It is right to observe that while city leaders deserve some credit for the brighter financial status currently in place, that situation probably would not exist without the $52 emergency and municipal services tax assessed on all people who work in the city — a tax that was established by state lawmakers.

While county prison construction and stepped-up efforts on delinquent tax collection also are contributing to the more positive fiscal bottom line, the major long-term difference in bolstering the city's coffers must be acknowledged as the $52 tax that replaced the former $10 occupational privilege levy.

Officials must be careful stewards of public money, but they shouldn't consider a giveback that would be a detriment to the city's long-term health. Nor should city residents expect such a giveback at this time.

Likewise, excessive future salary-increase expectations should not be on the minds of city workers. The city's fiscal picture remains fragile, despite the surplus.

A $1.2 million end-of-year balance is a reason to be happy and feel a sense of relief, considering the city's troubled fiscal past. However, the surplus shouldn't be an excuse for being foolish.