Most bureaucrats are familiar with the “spend -it-or-lose-it” philosophy that works like this: if a government agency does not find ways to spend all the money in its budget, legislators are unlikely to give it as much next year. That sometimes results in end-of-fiscal-year spending sprees — buying new things, whether the agency needs them or not.

But Belmont County Land Reutilization Corp. officials find themselves in a much different spend-it-or-lose-it situation. They aren’t tearing things down fast enough.

Commonly known as “the Land Bank,” the agency specializes in buying dilapidated buildings. Some are so far gone the only option is to have them demolished to provide land for new development.

Some of the money to do that comes from the state Neighborhood Initiative Program. But NIP rules require that 75 percent of the money it has given to the Land Bank must be spent by the end of this month. Presumably, NIP officials would seek to have the money returned to Columbus if it is not spent by the deadline.

That could be a problem, and it is beyond the local agency’s control, as Land Bank Deputy Treasurer T.J. Hill reported earlier this month. He told board members there have been delays in getting buildings demolished, and in finding contractors willing to undertake such work.

“We’ve had issues in receiving bids on the houses we’ve wanted to demo,” added Land Bank Director Tim Hall. Two such situations involve properties in Bellaire and Martins Ferry.

This is a problem aggravated by the oil and gas industry, of course. Much heavy equipment of the type needed for demolition work is being used at well sites and other energy-related projects. The challenge will grow worse if PTT Global Chemical proceeds with a massive ethane cracker plant at Dilles Bottom.

Rules are rules, of course, but state officials should not insist on rigid deadlines in circumstances such as that in Belmont County. Surely some means of satisfying them — proof of efforts to find contractors for demolition work, perhaps — can be found.

Belmont County has plenty of junk buildings that ought to be torn down. Every dime of state assistance can be put to good use. NIP officials should recognize the Land Bank is making an effort and should not be penalized.