Fuel expenses for the city of Jonesboro, including the fire department, have soared by approximately 40%, according to city officials.
Jonesboro Fire Chief Marty Hamrick reported that the fire department spent roughly $12,000 on fuel in August alone. With average gas prices at $4.01 per gallon and diesel at $6.28 per gallon, as reported by AAA, the department may face added fiscal pressure in the months ahead.
Despite the rising costs, Hamrick reaffirmed the department's commitment to its mission. "We’re always going to be here and we’re always going to serve," Hamrick said. "We may have to find other ways in our budget to reduce some funding there to be able to transfer it over to the fuel budget. But we’re always going to pay for fuel. We’re always going to fix our trucks and we’ll be there to serve."
City Chief Operating Officer Tony Thomas confirmed that the spike in fuel costs is affecting multiple departments across Jonesboro, with city-wide fuel expenses expected to exceed budget projections by the end of the year. "First responders are an essential service, so any cuts have to come from somewhere else," Thomas said, explaining that adjustments might include scaling back on supplies or delaying non-essential vehicle purchases.
Thomas noted that fuel prices have fluctuated significantly in recent years. "When you look at previous years, I think 2023 was our high year, and it was about a $1.6 million budget. Like I said, we’ve decreased that because prices did come down over the past two years. So we were at $1.5 million, then we were at $1.4 million," he said. This year’s fuel budget is also $1.4 million, but current projections indicate the city could exceed that figure by 15% if trends persist.
Jonesboro city leaders are meeting monthly to monitor expenses and adjust financial plans as needed to manage the rising costs.