Ask any planner, politician or political scientist to name the biggest obstacle to government efficiency in the state and the answer is always the same: too many layers of government. Couple the state’s fondness for all types of governmental entities with its notorious home rule law and, well, it’s exceedingly difficult to get anything done. Despite protestations of cooperation, governing bodies inevitably tend to want to do things their own way.So when some residents of the Town of Woodbury propose creating a Village of Woodbury, we have to say no. Stop. Enough already. More government means more taxes, more regulations, less cooperative planning.

Woodbury residents will vote Thursday to turn virtually the whole town into a village. Not instead of, mind you, but also. The village would encompass the town. The town government would still exist, but a village board would have the say over such things as fire protection and zoning. Zoning is the crux of the matter. Residents opposed to Kiryas Joel expansion plans say creating a Village of Woodbury would prevent the Hasidic village from doing the same thing inside the new village, which is true. But it wouldn’t prevent KJ from seeking other methods of expansion.

What it would definitely do is create a competition between town and village officials over who controls what. Village officials could pass laws, but town officials would control services and spending. This is no way to run a town, or a village. It would also complicate discussions with KJ, making it a three-way conversation. And it would certainly cost more in taxes than proponents of the plan say, because elected officials always seem to find a need for new jobs and ways to spend money.

It’s understandable that Woodbury residents want to have a say over their future. Talking seriously with KJ is crucial and the best way to do it is as a Village of Woodbury or a Town of Woodbury. Either, not both.