Kokomo city officials are expecting to spend about $250,000 more than budgeted for fuel costs this year, just one more way high fuel prices are affecting local residents.
The city buys fuel in bulk, but is still paying $1 more per gallon than the same time last year, city controller Jim Brannon said last week.
“We just did a cursory review, but we know what we’re paying for it, and when you add a dollar a gallon to that ... And this is even with some of the things we’re doing to become more efficient,” Brannon said.
Brannon confirmed the city is once again looking at its take-home vehicle policy and is considering charging city employees a fee.
“We’re trying to decide what’s in the city’s best interest,” he said. “We might charge a small fee to cover the cost of going back and forth to work.
“We want it to be such it won’t be a deterrent; we like the idea of community policing and police cars being visible, but at the same time we have to be responsible. It’s only fair they contribute a little bit to the price of fuel, especially with it being $4 a gallon.”
Oil prices are also hurting the city’s street paving plans, with city officials deciding against an expanded street resurfacing plan this summer.
Last week, the city awarded a $1.345 million contract to E&B; Paving, Anderson, for the street resurfacing program, roughly the same as the city has spent in recent years.
But to keep pace with the city’s resurfacing needs, city engineer Carey Stranahan said the city street department will try its hand at street resurfacing this year.
About $140,000 will be added to that department’s budget to perform more in-house resurfacing work, Stranahan said.
Last year, the city purchased asphalt at $64.85 a ton. Last week, the price was $76.50 a ton, Stranahan said.
“What property tax reform meant in Indiana was downsizing local government,” Brannon said. “You’re just not going to be able to do business the way you’ve done it in the past.”
Scott Smith may be reached at (765) 454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
City is taking a beating on fuel costs
Controller estimates costs $250K over budget
- Local News
-
-
Entire U.S. 31 corridor now under contract
Every segment of the 13.1-mile, U.S. 31 Kokomo Corridor is now officially under construction.
-
Northwestern to graduate 130 seniors
Peyton Hite ended her last day in high school by going home and washing sheep.
“It’s part of living on a farm,” she said, with a laugh.
-
Drugs, cash seized, four arrested
Police from four agencies seized heroin, pills, syringes and cash, and arrested four people this week after a raid on a house on East Street, according to police reports.
-
Lafayette job fair expects Kokomo hopefuls
Organizers of a Lafayette job fair next week are reaching out to Kokomo residents looking for work.
-
Deputy prosecutor facing two charges
A Howard County deputy prosecutor will face two drunken-driving charges in connection with a traffic stop in Cicero.
-
Governor honors student
A Northwestern High School senior achieved a milestone Thursday when he became the first Indiana student ever to win both of the state’s top science awards.
-
Taylor considering staff reductions
A decline in enrollment has forced Taylor School Corp. to consider staff reductions, but the board won’t vote on the issue until next week, officials said Thursday.
-
Schools among top 20 in Indiana
Three area schools were ranked among the top 20 in Indiana this year by U.S. News and World Report.
Tri-Central Middle/High School, Eastern Junior-Senior High School and Tipton High School all made the list, which was an evaluation of 379 high schools across the state.
-
Library starts iPad rental program
Apple can’t make enough iPads to satisfy demand, but the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library now owns 15 iPad2 units.
Thursday, social media-conscious library patrons scrambled to borrow the tablet computers, on the first official day of the library’s iPad lending program.
-
Gov. names NW student 'Mr. Science' for 2012
Tyler Barnes becomes first Indiana student to be named Indiana's Top Young Scientist and Mr. Science.
- More Local News Headlines
-
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
