Have you ever heard of Isleton, California?  It is a small town in Sacramento County with a population of roughly 800 people.  Recently, the town lost its police department because it allowed its workers’ compensation insurance to lapse – its previous coverage was canceled after some time of failing to pay.

The town just doesn’t have the money.

Efforts are being made to find a new policy, but until one is in place, the town must rely on Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies as its police force.

Many cities self-insure, but this takes at least some funds as well, and if there’s no money, there’s no money.

When a California business must close its doors because regulatory costs are too high, such as the costs of workers’ compensation insurance, the business disappears and the effect of “out of sight, out of mind” renders it quickly forgotten.

When a city can not afford workers’ compensation for its police force, the city lingers and the effects are witnessed by all.  Perhaps this is a good opportunity for the neighboring city of Sacramento, overflowing with fine statesmen and skilled legislators, to fix the problem (and quickly) or at least come to grips with the fact that a problem exists.