An article on this week’s front page tells of a severe funding gap in our state ferry system that’s been patched for two more years by the state. Turn the page, though, to learn about a larger government crisis that hasn’t been averted and will now affect Vashon.

Like the ferries, the U.S. Postal Service is not on a sustainable path. According to USPS statistics, mail volume in the country has declined by a quarter since 2007, largely because more business and communication is being done online. Revenue is also down by about 13 percent, resulting in roughly $41 billion in losses over the past six years.

Earlier this year, the postal service announced it would end Saturday delivery this summer, a plan that Congress stopped in April. And unlike when Vashon’s legislative representatives advocated for the island’s ferry service, no one was there to advocate for the Burton post office when it was added to a list of thousands of branches nationwide slated for cuts. A new normal is coming where in Burton post office will soon be open in the mornings, plus an hour on Saturdays.

We’ve heard some initial grumblings about the cuts. The grumbles make sense, and perhaps USPS should have done some public outreach before its orders came from on high and a sign was posted at the office. But we also think islanders will adjust. Some, for instance, could have packages delivered to their homes from now on. We know mail theft is a concern, but we’ve seen substantially more of it around the town core and the north end than in Burton. Some could do more business at the Vashon post office, which is, after all, just four miles away. Vashon’s postmaster is working on a way of transferring packages from the Burton office to the Vashon one — a generous offer if it happens. And those in or near Burton without cars? We imagine they’ll make a point to visit the post office before noon or they’ll go to the Vashon office when they catch a ride or take the bus into town for other errands.

Many cities and towns no longer enjoy having post offices located so near one another, and USPS recognizes that. Before Vashon Highway existed, many post offices dotted the island’s perimeter. Someday the Vashon post office may be the only one on the island, and we suspect islanders will get used to that, too.

For now, we’re glad that when more vital and far-reaching services like the ferries are on the chopping block, we’ve got lawmakers on our side.