People in Chautauqua County have seen the signs – the gas price signs, that is. And they want to know why they’re paying more for a gallon of gas in the Jamestown area than they do in Westfield.

We’ve heard the complaints. We’ve seen the social media posts – gas sign selfies are almost as popular as vacation selfies these days from county residents who can’t believe the prices they’re finding when they’re out on the road. And it’s not like we’re talking about trips to the Carolinas here. The price in Allegany County is $3.115 compared to our $3.395. A short drive north to Erie County would allow drivers to fill up for $3.079. Chemung County drivers are getting their gas for $2.974 a gallon.

Enough is enough.

We’re glad County Executive PJ Wendel is calling for state and federal authorities to investigate prices here that are continuously higher than similar types of counties – with the exception of the much more populous Erie County, of course. Wendel is right when he notes that higher gas prices hurt low-income county residents at a time when everyone is still dealing with a multi-year increase in the cost of almost everything we buy and with many people’s wages not coming close to catching up to the cost of living. Wendel is asking state Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Attorney Joel Violanti of the Western District of New York to decide if legal or regulatory action is warranted regarding the inflated fuel costs that continue to burden county residents. If it is not, then the state and federal officials should make their reasoning public so that county residents can know, once and for all, why gas prices here are so high.

But Wendel and county lawmakers have a role to play as well. If county gasoline taxes play a role in the difference in gas prices between Chautauqua County and other counties in the state then the county can take action to ameliorate some of the pain county drivers feel at the pump. It won’t bring gas prices down to Erie County’s level, but every little bit helps – and no investigation is needed.