The Archbold Area School Board made a good decision by not purchasing property owned by the Archbold Evangelical Church.

There are dozens of good reasons to buy the 3.5-acre parcel adjacent to land already owned by the school district. Any other time, it would have been a good move.

But these are difficult financial times for everyone, including the school district and those who support it.

The school board probably could have found a way to buy the site, raiding one fund or another, putting a small levy on the ballot, or even borrowing the money.

Instead, it chose a more fiscally responsible route, deciding to hang on to as many of its dollars as possible, and not put any more burden on the taxpayer than necessary.

By deciding against the purchase, the board sent a message to the taxpayers, a message that says school finances are tight, so tight it had to take a pass on a move that would have paid future benefits.

For those who care to learn, it’s also a lesson. No matter how much you want something, if you don’t have the money to pay for it, you shouldn’t buy it.