When is it not a good idea for a city government to save money on expenses?

Actually, we can’t think of any.

Sure, there are times when certain extravagances may be called for, and emergencies always pop up, but when month-to-month expenses are managed frugally, those extras don’t cause so much chagrin.

For that reason, the report the Talladega City Council received Tuesday night showing $1.64 million in savings is a welcome surprise. The savings come not from cutting services, but from reconsidering how those services are managed, renegotiating contracts, taking advantage of technology.

Among the cost reductions are $350,000 a year in garbage collection, $15,000 in office supplies, $35,000-$40,000 for tree services, $8,500 for propane, $40,000 for vehicle maintenance, $15,000 for concrete, $75,000 for playground equipment, $30,000 for condemned house demolition, and $5,000-$10,000 for mowing.

Using an online auction service to sell off surplus property brought in another $40,000.

While achieving all of these savings, the city was able to provide annual pay raises for all its employees — a benefit not many in the private sector have seen in the last year. The city also renovated the Spring Street Recreation Center at a cost of more than $830,000, installed new playground equipment at four parks, expanded the transportation program with an $18,000 grant from the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, completed the Coleman Circle sewer improvements, began a $2 million paving project with state money, and remodeled City Hall.

From here, to accomplish that much while reducing expenses by a million and a half dollars looks like good management.