Mapleheightspress.com - Gas prices strike cities and schools

by Tim Troglen and
Emily Canning-Dean

Reporters

Gas prices are nearing $4 per gallon, and it's not just the folks who commute to work each day who are feeling the crunch.

School districts as well as municipalities across the region are feeling the pain at the pumps.

"We have 25 buses on the road every day transporting students, so obviously the increase in gas costs is going to affect us," said Maple Heights School Treasurer Christopher Krause.

Krause said the district spent $90,600 on gas last year for school vehicles. He said school vehicles used just over 25,000 gallons of gas last year.

"This year we may spend an additional $20,000 to $21,000," Krause said.

Krause added that while the district has not had to cut from any current funds to make up for the increase in gas prices, he did not rule out cuts in the future.

"We only have a limited amount of resources," he said. "At some point something is going to have to give."

And while Krause said the schools have not been hit with any increases in other areas because of the fuel prices, he is not ruling out added costs in the future.

"We haven't seen an increase in food prices yet," Krause said. "But there will obviously be a ripple effect across the board."

Krause said the district could see increases in items such as products in plastic bottles, roofing materials and the "many, many things made from fuel-based products."

The city of Maple Heights has seen its fuel budgets inflate.

"It will have an effect on everything from police, fire and service vehicles," said Finance Director Thomas Zammikiel. "It nails us all."

Zammikiel said police cars are on the road 24 hours a day, service vehicles are out 12 hours a day.

"I would imagine this year we will pay $35,000 to $50,000 more than last year for fuel," he said. "I cannot see this stuff going down."

Assistant Maple Heights Finance Director Eric Dean said the city spent $176,891 for fuel last year.

"Already this year we have spent $85,000," he said April 29.

Roderick May, spokesperson for Bedford Heights Mayor Fletcher Berger, said Berger has taken steps to conserve fuel as much as possible.

"The mayor has instituted a 'no idling' policy," May said. "That means that no city vehicle is allowed to be parked with the engine running, with the exception of police cars when officers are scanning traffic."