Choteau County Sheriff's Department Feels Pinch at the Pump

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Choteau County Sheriff's Department Feels Pinch at the Pump

By KFBB News Team

Story Published: Aug 28, 2008 at 5:47 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 28, 2008 at 5:47 PM MST

We're not the only ones feeling the pinch at the pump. The Choteau County Sheriff's office is making cuts because of high gas prices. Sheriff Vern Burdick says "Rather than be able to go out and buy say new computers or new products for the sherrifs office, we're having to repair it." They've also had to dip into money that goes to training new officers and 911 controllers. The Choteau County Sheriff's Department says they've seen over a 100 percent increase in fuel costs over the past couple years and that's why they're asking for more money in this year's budget. If they don't get more money, fuel efficient cars aren't really an option because Choteau County encompasses 4,000 miles of rural areas. Burdick says "We have to have the vehicles that will get us out on those gravel roads no matter what the weather conditions are and help our citizens and our county so we don't have the options of say like a city, to downgrade to a more fuel efficient vehicle." The sheriff's office says many SUV's and pickups get just as good gas mileage as some patrol cars. SUV's and trucks also have a higher resale value five years down the road.

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