Topeka — Consider this a warning.
Local commuters exit a state van Friday evening in a parking lot on the south side of Hillcrest Shopping Center. With the rise in gas prices, many local residents who do not work in Lawrence are choosing to share rides as a cost-cutting measure.
High gas prices won't keep the Kansas Highway Patrol off the roads.
In the last days of the 2005 regular legislative session, lawmakers and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius allocated approximately $600,000 in additional funds to state troopers for gas.
Col. William Seck, superintendent of the Highway Patrol "has made it known he wants to keep patrol cars moving up and down the roads," Lt. John Eichkorn, a spokesman for the agency, said Friday.
Probably more than any other state agency, the Highway Patrol is affected by gas prices because it consumes nearly 1 million gallons per year. Last year, it spent $1.5 million on gas; the year before, $1.2 million.
"It's just exploding," Eichkorn said of the price.
In other areas of the budget, the increase in gasoline prices has had good and bad effects, but overall hasn't really dented the state's economy, according to Duane Goossen, Sebelius' budget director.
"As a whole, the economy in Kansas is doing very well," Goossen said.
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He said tax revenues continue to climb, including sales taxes. If gas prices continue to increase, that could affect the buying patterns of Kansans and have a negative impact on sales tax, Goossen said, but added that so far that hasn't happened.
Severance taxes from oil production in Kansas increased a whopping 50 percent in the last fiscal year. But that increase reflected a jump from $18.5 million to $28 million - not a significant amount in an $11 billion state budget.
Goossen said so far there had been no changes in how state agencies operate because of the spike in gas prices, but that officials would continue to monitor the situation.
"Agencies are expected to operate within the budgets they received," he said.
Pump Patrol
The Journal-World found gas prices as low as $2.55 at several locations. If you find a lower price, call Pump Patrol at 832-7154.
In another area, gas prices seem to be keeping the state van pool program on the road.
Eight 12- to 15-passenger vans filled with state employees make the Lawrence to Topeka run every weekday.
Abe Rezayazdi, a coordinator for one of the vans, said fuel prices were "reaffirming riders to stay with it."
He said the van pool program, which the Sebelius administration had tried to disband in 2004, seemed to be becoming more popular.
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