Gas Prices Affect JSU, Students

Suzie Hammock-Goble of Gadsden says she's having to make
cutbacks to afford the higher-priced gas to commute to JSU.
(Steve Latham Photo)

By Sherry Kughn
JSU News Bureau

April 15, 2004 -- The seventh rise in gasoline prices in eight weeks has drivers feeling the pinch in their budgets. Peak season has not hit yet, either, with prices rising traditionally throughout the spring and summer months. Gasoline prices this week in Jacksonville rose to $1.69 per gallon compared to $1.52 in January of this year.

Jacksonville State University operates dozens of vehicles, which is causing concern among those department heads who juggle transportation budgets. Individual students, too, feel the rise, as well as employees who travel long distances. About two thirds of JSU's 9,000 students commute. No figures are available on the number of employees who live in other towns.

 

JSU students Suzie Hammock-Goble and her husband, Scott, live in East Gadsden. They spend about $50 to 60 a week on gasoline. Each drives a Ford Tauris to school to save on gasoline expense.

 

"We don't think much about the gas prices," said Mrs. Goble. "We have to get back and forth to school."

 

A car wreck a few years ago caught the Gobles off guard since their livelihood was based on a computer business they owned. During the recovery time from injuries, both made the decision to obtain college degrees and find better jobs that would give them more security. Mrs. Goble drives to JSU five days a week as she pursues a bachelor of science in social services. Goble drives two days. He is pursuing a master's degree in accounting.

 

"We cut back, too, on eating out and entertainment," said Mrs. Goble, "but we have not cut back on necessities so far."

 

JSU Police Chief Terry Schneider operates six vehicles in his department. Thus far, no major changes have been made in his operation, but a few minor ones have gone into effect.

 

"We're already increasing foot patrols," Schneider said. "We have in no way decreased the law enforcement coverage on campus, in fact we won't do that."

 

If prices continue to rise, though, and go to more than $2 a gallon, Schneider said more changes will be made. The department plans to look for other ways to "resource the funds."

 

"We anticipate the rise," said Schneider. "You don't have to have a crystal ball to see that prices in some major cities have reached $2 a gallon. We're planning for it."

 

George Lord is the person who ultimately oversees the fill-up of 56 vehicles in the Physical Plant Department.

 

Lord says he saw a five percent increase in gasoline prices in January of 2003 when price per gallon was $1.45.  Thus far, Lord says his Department has not implemented any new procedures.

 

"Conservation and sound management are always a part of any organization that is providing a quality service," said Lord. "Consolidation of trips and a good common sense approach by PPD employees to conserve fuel is a continuous effort by all."

 

JSU discontinued using its own pumps in about 1995 due to stricter requirements by the Environmental Protection Agency. Now its vehicles fill up at a local station using a system of credit card purchases.

 

Outside of the PPD, JSU uses vehicles in the departments of athletics, recruiting, continuing education, the mail center, the library, and possibly a few others, says Lord. "We pay what the gas stations charge."

 

The administrative assistant for the Athletic Department, Karen Dean, coordinates the bus and van schedules, and she pays reimbursement to budgets for gasoline expenses. Thus far, says Dean, the budgets have not been affected due to price averaging. The department reimburses athletic budgets at an averaged figured of $1.45 per gallon for diesel fuel. That covers times when the prices have been lower and now that they are higher. Soon, though, budgets will begin to be affected, says Dean, if prices go up as expected.

 

"We will have to look at reimbursing the athletic budgets at a higher rate," she said. "Also, if prices continue to rise the athletic department faces cutting out something, such as a trip, or doing without some equipment." It is possible, too, says Dean, that JSU's administrative departments will make a decision to add more money to the budget to cover the rising costs.

 

The Athletic Department operates two large buses, a small passenger bus, and five vans. One large bus alone takes about 156-160 gallons of diesel fuel to fill up. The two buses average about five to six miles to the gallon, according to driver Pete Brooks. Now that's a reason to shake the head while pumping gasoline.

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