By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press
The Metropolitan Evansville Transit System has exhausted its fuel budget for the year, but there are no immediate plans to scale back any routes or increase bus fares, said Ed Ziemer, executive director of the city's Transportation and Services Department.
"We continue to look at what things might be done, but we're not planning anything specific at this time," Ziemer said Tuesday.
METS budgeted $555,000 for fuel in 2008. Monday, the City Council approved a transfer of $180,000 from the city's General Fund to the METS' Fuel and Ice account. Ziemer said that money might not last the rest of the year, so additional requests may be necessary.
"We're going to calculate (that) later in the year and see what else we need," he said.
Ziemer said METS has seen increased ridership this year.
"We can still run the same routes," he said. "We pick up more passengers, and it really doesn't cost us any more. There's a possibility you might increase a little bit if you make additional stops to pick up people, but it's pretty (small). Most of our increase in customers come in bunches."
The funds transfer is one example of how rising fuel costs are affecting city and county governments. Both the city police and fire departments have made policy changes to reduce fuel consumption.
The Evansville Police Department increased its fuel budget from $402,000 in 2007 to $549,400 this year. It likely will be forced to request additional funding for fuel, if prices remain at current levels or continue to increase. The Fire Department has reduced public appearances with its trucks at places such as schools to save fuel.
The Vanderburgh County Highway Department will switch to a four-day workweek starting Monday to reduce fuel costs. Employees will work four 10-hour days.
The schedule will continue through Oct. 31. The Vanderburgh County Commissioners and Highway Department officials will review the plan by Oct. 15 and decide whether to continue it.