Officials are budgeting in more money for high gas prices.
/ File Photo
PORTALES, N.M. -- Roosevelt County authorities are adding more money to their budgets to cover high gas prices.
Portales Police Chief Jeff Gill says he expects to see gas over $4 per gallon by July and anticipates a 30 percent increase in gas prices next fiscal year. Gill budget $80,000 for fuel this year.
Roosevelt County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Malin Parker tells the Portales News-Tribune his agency has set aside about $40,000 for gas for the entire 19 vehicle fleet.
Both Parker and Gill say that despite higher fuel prices, cutting back on patrols is not an option.
Parker says taxpayers pay deputies to patrol, and with the office already battling theft cases, decreasing patrols would hurt.
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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com
