Marshall County Administrator Betsy Frohnapfel discusses opioid settlement funding in this file photo. Frohnapfel said Friday the county isn’t taking any immediate actions to offset rising gasoline costs. (File photo)

WHEELING – As gas prices took a drastic jump in recent weeks, so did the hit on the budgets of local cities, counties and school districts.

Some officials say they aren’t worried yet about the added expense, as the cost of gasoline was lower than expected most of the year and was coming in under budget.

Others indicated they will sit idle on the issue in the coming weeks – but not too long, as sitting idle wastes gas.

“Because prices went down during the current fiscal year, we’re actually ahead on that part of the budget,” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron explained. “We do have room for temporary increases in price.”

He noted that there are no plans to increase the line item for gasoline expenses in next year’s Wheeling budget.

The budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 is due this month and starts on July 1.

Police, fire and city operations crews use the most gasoline to provide service, Herron continued.

“We don’t plan on changing anything for next year. We will evaluate at the end of this fiscal year to see if we need to make any changes,” he explained. “At council’s first meeting in July, we’ll make any adjustments to the fiscal year budget.

“But we’re in good shape because the prices did drop earlier in the year, and we’re ahead on line items.”

Betsy Frohnapfel, county administrator in Marshall County, also said the county isn’t taking any immediate actions to offset gasoline costs.

“But we do watch line items closely,” she said. “When we do the budget at the beginning of the year, we try to incorporate into everyone’s gasoline lines enough money to be able to navigate the ups and downs.

“When the prices spike a little bit, they usually have enough to handle it.”

Cutting back on gasoline is far different than cutting back on office supplies, Frohnapfel continued.

“You can stop buying paper but you can’t stop putting gasoline in sheriff’s vehicles,” she said.

Ohio County Sheriff Nelson Croft would agree.

“My budget for gasoline is always $10,000 per month,” he said. “We are trying to conserve and be out on patrol all we can, but really all we can do is cut idle time and turn the engine off when we’re just sitting.

“It’s just something we have to deal with.”

Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton isn’t certain yet how rising gas prices will affect providing of services to county residents.

The commission funds the County Senior Services programs, which includes transportation of seniors and daily delivery of meals.

“Fuel prices have had a major impact on their expenses,” Dutton explained. “The (county) engineer also has to put road crews out.”

The commission also provides a budget to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office.

“Sheriff Zusack believes in road patrol, and the deputies put in a considerable amount of miles each day,” he said.

Also traveling the roadways everyday are school buses.

“The prices have gone up some. But as of right now, we’re just keeping an eye on things,” said David Crumm, operations director for Ohio County Schools. “We haven’t had to cut back yet. But we will keep an eye on prices.

“We are in between sports seasons right now, which is a good thing. The lull hit at the right time. We’re getting ready to start (sports seasons) next week – baseball, softball, lacrosse and track.”

Crumm is prepared to have a conversation with Ohio County Schools Business Manager Steve Bieniek about high gas prices and the budget higher gas prices at the pump “turn out to be an extended process.”