Gas Prices Rising

By: Nick Adam Email

Updated: Thu 9:56 PM, Feb 23, 2012

High gas prices are not just an added burden for individuals and families. Business and government agencies have budgets to stay within as well, like sheriff's departments.

Deputies in Lauderdale County, for example, average around 1,500 gallons of gas a week.

"We're over budget currently in that line item," says Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun, "however we are under budget in other line items, so we'll move money around and make things work."

Calhoun says there are no plans to limit the amount of time deputies spend on patrols.

School districts are also feeling the pinch at the pump. The Meridian Public School District budgeted about $215,000 for fuel, but with three months left in the fiscal year, district officials say they are looking at a budget shortfall as well.

"nationwide school districts are also feeling the pinch at the pump, the Meridian Public School District budgeted about $215,000 for fuel for their fleet of buses this fiscal year, but with three months left in that period, district officials say they are looking at a budget shortfall as well

"We're going to deal with that the way we deal with any other issue with our budget," says MPSD Chief Fiscal Officer Rebecca Stevens "we're going to evaluate that, and make do with what we have through the end of this fiscal year."

There are no plans to change any bus routes in Meridian.

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