Last week’s failure of a proposal to merge Topeka and Shawnee County governments into a single entity may offer some insight for officials and residents of Lawrence and Douglas County.

A majority of Shawnee County residents actually voted to combine the governments, but the question had to be approved by a majority of Topeka voters and a separate majority of county voters outside Topeka. The measure failed because it was favored by about 60 percent of Topeka voters but only about 40 percent of voters outside the city.

Officials looking back at the results blamed a general lack of trust in government for the defeat. Non-Topeka residents may not have been totally satisfied with county government, but they were unwilling to take a chance that a combined government would be any better. Observers say it’s unlikely any consolidation plan that requires a majority of non-Topeka voters will pass muster.

One of the goals of consolidated government is to improve cooperation between city and county officials, especially in counties where there is considerable urban growth into rural areas. (Wyandotte County has the only combined government in the state.) Some observers said another reason the united Shawnee County government plan failed is that city and county officials already do a good job of cooperating in a variety of areas. That certainly is true of Lawrence and Douglas County officials, but there also are areas that have the potential to place officials at odds.

Lawrence city officials, for instance, are pondering the idea of annexing large tracts in the urban growth area to facilitate long-range planning of public infrastructure. State law gives county commissioners the power to block large-scale annexations that are opposed by landowners. Does that inject unnecessary conflict into local government, or is it simply a beneficial check on local decision making?

The Shawnee County proposal placed restrictions on unilateral annexations, but rural voters apparently weren’t satisfied with the protections. They also expressed concerns that their taxes would rise while their level of government services declined.

Obviously any proposal for a unified government in Douglas County would have to work not only for Lawrence but also for rural residents and for the county’s other incorporated cities. Although no one here is currently talking seriously about pressing for consolidated county government, it seems likely that day could come before too long. Watching how our neighbors to the east and west work through this process can provide considerable guidance for any future proposal in Douglas County.