NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Administrator Randy Partington said that consumable resources are taking a bite into the county budget.
"Asphalt road work, we actually did fewer miles this year than planned, because of inflation, which will have a lasting impact for future years," Partington said. "The same thing may happen next year. Gasoline is another one that's really hurting us this year. The sheriff's office, their budget is pretty tight, but a lot of it is fuel."
The Sheriff's Office has been trying to mitigate this a bit with the use of hybrid vehicles, where it makes sense.
"Public safety, having law enforcement out on the streets, we're the third largest county in size, so it is very important for the Sheriff's Office to continue to operate," Partington said. "We have some hybrids, the Ford Interceptors, look like Explorers, so we do have a few of those out on the road, but we also have the traditional gas models."
The decision on which way to go with vehicles when purchase time comes is a complicated one.
"We're looking at all options for fuel efficiency and what we can do to, I guess, keep the costs contained for the citizens. The most recent order that we're looking for on patrol vehicles are not hybrids. Part of that is cost. Cost of vehicles, as that cost goes up and hybrids are more, we have to choose wisely as to how we spend those funds."
The hope is to be able to hold the line on the mill levy, but the impacts of inflation on the 2023 budget as a whole will definitely be a topic of discussion for the new five member commission when they are installed in January.
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