OUR VIEW: Fuel costs causing angst for officials

Staff Editorial
Published: August 15, 2008

» SUMMARY: No one is exempt from high gas prices, especially when it comes to public agencies like law enforcement and the school system.

There’s a line in the movie “Full Metal Jacket” about a rather unpalatable sandwich of which everyone must take a bite.

For several months, that sandwich has been the high price of gasoline and, in general, the sluggish economy.

The prices at most stations actually have come down a bit in recent weeks, but not enough to provide any real relief for most people’s pocketbooks.
After all, it still costs at least $40 to fill the tank of a subcompact car.

Now, the pain we’ve all been feeling in our household budgets is reaching local government.

Sheriff Jim Branch recently lamented his department’s predicament during his quarterly report, which he delivered last week in Jeffersonton.

The department has seven positions that are frozen, but he has no plans to cut back on patrols.

He’s right not to do so, but undoubtedly, there will be times when the department is stretched thin.
Law enforcement is not the only area affected.

The school system is preparing for another year of busing youngsters to school from all corners of the county.

In addition, there are the regular outings to nearby counties for field trips, athletic events and the like.

When the contracts were negotiated last year, fuel was considerably cheaper than it is now.

The School Board may have factored the higher price into its budget, but that doesn’t mean it feels the sting any less.
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Officials from Pizza Hut’s headquarters in Dallas recently said they plan to reopen a restaurant in Culpeper after an electrical fire gutted its eatery at 876 N. Main St.
It’s still too early to say when Culpeper will get a new Pizza Hut, but we wish the company the best as it tries to recover.