County governments are joining Baltimore -area drivers in gaining relief from tumbling gas prices.
Since October, Anne Arundel has saved $680,000 by using weekly contracts, rather than long-term deals, to buy its gasoline and diesel, county officials said.
“We’re looking under the couch cushions for every penny possible,” Leopold said.
“A little here and little there can add up to a lot.”
Since October, the county has bought 391,000 gallons of gas and 172,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
If Anne Arundel had piggybacked onto another county’s fuel contract, Anne Arundel would have paid $2.95 a gallon; instead, the county ended up paying $1.40 a gallon.
“When somebody gives you a fixed price, you buy it on futures prices. I don’t think many knew how much the prices would fall,” said Fred Schram, Anne Arundel’s director of central services.
Howard piggybacks off Baltimore County’s fuel contract, which was changed recently to $1.44 a gallon, county officials said Friday.
Governments have taken fuel-saving measures as a way to help stem budget deficits, especially in Anne Arundel, which is facing a $36 million deficit..
Anne Arundel implemented a policy change to significantly curb the number of vehicles county employees can take home.
That move saved the county $700,000 since it was implemented earlier this year, Leopold said.
During the summer, employees were asked to reduce air conditioner use and drive slower to save money.
The state government is looking to use hybrid vehicles in its fleet, as well as mandate all Maryland Transit Authority buses become hybrid buses.
Howard also cut back on fuel consumption by discontinuing take-home vehicles for some out-of-county personnel and mandating a 5 percent reduction of gas usage in the police department.
Gas prices have tumbled dramatically since the summer, when a gallon of gas topped out at more than $4.
The national average cost for a gallon of regular gas was $1.63 on Friday, while the average in Maryland was $1.58, according to AAA.
