Fuel costs draining local governments, law enforcement agencies

As a Dothan Police officer, Nick Monday is accustomed to being behind the wheel of a Ford Crown Victoria.

This year, however, he transitioned to a more compact Chevrolet Impala as part of the city’s effort to downsize their vehicles amid fuel-based economic woes.

“It’s the most economical use of our resources (and that’s) what we’re after,” Monday said.

Monday, who serves as a major in the administration division of the department, previously drove a 1998 Crown Victoria, which he said handles regular everyday police work more easily with its heavier frame.

A constant increase in gas prices has led the City of Dothan’s fuel costs to exceed its $1.3 million budget by nearly $700,000, according to preliminary projections by Larry Muench, the city’s general services director. By the end of the fiscal year in October, fuel costs could exceed the $2 million mark.

“As we go forward and if the recession were to continue, we’d have to look where we could cut for next year’s budget,” Dothan City Manager Mike West said. “Long term, it’s obviously going to impact the budget.”

No services to the public will be cut, but some departments have changed to a four-day work week, including some utility and landscaping crews. Each city department has been asked to find ways to reduce costs in other areas to offset higher fuel costs. The cost of tires and routine maintenance have also increased.

“We’ve got an obligation to the tax payers to stretch their dollar as much as we can and to do everything we can to reduce costs as part of our operation,” Muench said. “Every time I can put a smaller vehicle out there, that costs less to operate. We’re going to do it.”

The Dothan Police Department started a gradual downsizing of its unmarked vehicles last year in an effort to save money. The city has also downsized its leisure services vehicles from pickup trucks to smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, like Gator utility vehicles, to transport equipment around the parks.

The city has also purchased a hybrid Toyota Prius for Dothan Utilities’ Water Division supervisor to use. Several months ago, the city changed to 10 percent ethanol in the city’s fuel to help save money for the city’s fleet of around 700 vehicles.

A citywide committee has also been formed to develop programs to train employees to drive city vehicles more economically, Muench said.

“The main impact it’s had on us is the overall cost to operate the city fleet of vehicles,” Muench said. “Everything we buy has gone up in price because of the transportation costs of delivering it.”

County impact

Houston County Administrator Bill Dempsey said county officials are also evaluating the possibility of some employees changing to a four-day work week to save money. The county road and bridge department changed to the four-day week a couple of years ago.

Dempsey said the Houston County Sheriff’s Office has reduced costs in other area to offset excessive fuel costs. 

Hughes has considered changing the non-sworn employees in the civil division to a four-day, 10-hour work week. Hughes has also started looking into more fuel efficient vehicles for the civil division.

“We’ll definitely have to ask for a budget amendment because of our fuel costs,” Hughes said. “We’re running out of money. We can’t cut services, but it’s hard to pay the fuel bills, too.”

The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has spent three fourths of its $200,000 fuel budget, which runs until October.

“We’re doubling up some deputies in some vehicles,” Hughes said. “It provides immediate backup. It also saves fuel, and you’ve got one vehicle in operation instead of two.”