Virginia Beach City Council set to approve new measures to fight high gas prices

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — UPDATE: Tuesday night time, Virginia Seaside Metropolis Council voted to extend its gas funds by greater than $1 million to pay for gasoline for metropolis autos.

This week, the common price of a gallon of gasoline is 40 cents greater than it was a month in the past, in response to AAA.

In Hampton Roads, that comes out to $4.28 a gallon. Virginia’s common is $4.31 per gallon.

The price of gasoline is changing into a urgent difficulty for metropolis governments as leaders attempt to discover new methods to maintain up with costs on the pump.

The Virginia Seaside Metropolis Council is contemplating growing a gasoline spending restrict to greater than $1.35 million in a brand new ordinance.

On this new ordinance, metropolis leaders might approve elevating the gas buying for fleet administration to verify metropolis autos hold working.

“That may enable town to take care of operations by way of the top of the yr,” mentioned Virginia Seaside Director of Price range Administration Companies Kevin Chatellier.

Chatellier mentioned the backup plan council members will vote on is utilizing funds from the pandemic reserve. He defined if town council approves the ordinance, then about $1 million from the pandemic reserve fund may very well be tapped for emergency use.

“That’s not essentially being transferred or moved for the acquisition of the gas. It’s going to be solely transferred if essential to get departments to the top of this fiscal yr with their operational wants,” mentioned Chatellier.

Chatellier mentioned a gas and power fund is in place for town’s subsequent fiscal yr funds.

“And they also [city council] even have a devoted funds reserve, about $5 million, and it’s a gas and power reserve for this very objective,” Chatellier mentioned.

Metropolis officers are hopeful they gained’t have to make use of cash from the pandemic reserve fund.