Oil prices impact budget JIM KINNEY, The Saratogian October 03, 2000 BALLSTON SPA -- High oil prices have Saratoga County Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Ritchey adjusting his budget upward. Monday afternoon, he asked the Buildings and Grounds Committee to increase the gasoline budget by $40,000 for the remainder of 2000.

Ritchey is responsible for running the pumps where public health nurses, social services workers and others refill the tanks of county motor pool vehicles.

The county has purchased 108,000 gallons of gas so far this year and expects to purchase 30,000 more by Jan. 1.

But Ritchey said the rising cost of paving material has had a bigger impact.

Asphalt contains between 4 percent and 6 percent petroleum, depending on whether it's formulated as a base layer or a top coat, Ritchey said. The high cost of oil translated to an additional $180,000 to pave 20 miles of county road this summer.

''I've added $10,000-a-mile to my estimates for next year,'' Ritchey said.

Ritchey has submitted a $3.2 million highway reconstruction request for the 2001 budget

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=924131&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17708&rfi=6

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 03, 2000