For many of us, skyrocketing gas prices range from a very rough drain on our bank accounts to a significant concern about whether or not our families can make budget every month.
For still unlucky others, meanwhile, it is becoming a question of literal public safety:
Skyrocketing gas prices have already begun to take a dramatic toll on public safety, as one Michigan county announced it must limit in-person responses to 911 calls since their department has already exhausted its fuel budget.
The Sheriff's Department of Isabella County, which is located just 80 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, announced that high gas prices had caused officers to blow through their annual fuel budget months before it would reset.
That's right: A small county in Michigan "[blew] through" its yearly fuel budget with months to spare.
The sheriff's department, God bless it, is doing the best it can:
Sheriff Michael Main said that in order to manage the budget shortfall, deputies were going to be forced to change the way they operated — particularly how they responded to 911 calls.
"I have instructed the deputies to attempt to manage whatever calls are acceptable over the phone," Main said, clarifying that if deputies believed a situation required them to handle the situation on scene they would still do that. "This would be non-in-progress calls, non-life-threatening calls, calls that do not require evidence collection or documentation."
"I want to assure the community that safety is our primary goal, and we will continue to respond to those types of calls," Main added, noting that regular patrols would continue despite the budget issue.
Meanwhile, what are our elected officials doing as the social fabric of the United States begins to rapidly come apart at the seams? Oh right:
Remember to vote in November, folks. Even if you have to carpool to get there because gas is so expensive.
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