First responders prepare for fiscal strain with high gas prices
First responders in Butler County were already facing an uphill battle in recent years against rising costs on equipment and staffing.
Now, they are also having to keep a closer eye on how much they spend on gasoline.
According to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, unleaded gas in the Butler area cost about $3.30 a gallon on March 2. By May 18, gas prices in that same area had skyrocketed to $4.90 a gallon — a $1.60 a gallon increase in less than three months.
Chief Talo Capuzzi of the Adams Area Fire District said gas prices in the early months of 2026 fell below their budgeted monthly amount of $1,400, giving them a small amount of padding for the rest of the year.
However, things changed drastically in March and April, leading to the district spending over $1,800 for gas in the latter month.
“If that continues, we’ll end up being $2,800 over budget on gas by the end of the year,” Capuzzi said.
He said while direct transportation costs are a concern, they are further compounded by increasing prices on all fronts. The biggest increases have come from fuel surcharges and delivery fees.
“We bought some fire hoses and they cost $1,500. They used to be free shipping, but it now costs us $300 to get them shipped,” he said.
Capuzzi said the district has faced roughly 10% higher costs on average in recent years.
“We try to get a new vehicle every 10 years. We got our last truck for about $800,000 in 2022. That would cost $1.2 million now,” he said.
He said there are costs the district can trim that wouldn’t affect day-to-day operations, such as limiting the number of stipend shifts available.
Conrad Pfeifer, executive director of Quality EMS, said gas prices have been a factor, but haven’t caused any tremendous impacts as of yet. The most frustrating part of the higher gas prices is that the agency cannot change its rates to account for it.
“We all get paid the same and we can’t not go on calls,” he said.
He said gas prices have been less of a factor partly because the agency has been using more van chassis ambulances over truck chassis.
“(The truck chassis ambulances) usually get about 7 or 8 miles to the gallon, and we keep them idling a lot,” Pfeifer said.
He said Quality EMS is proud to be the first EMS agency in the county to receive funding from all municipalities in its coverage area. He thanked the municipalities for their support and forward-thinking attitude toward EMS funding.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without that support from our municipalities,” he said.
He also thanked Purvis Brothers for offering a better rate on their gas than available at the pump.
While first responders expect to feel the weight of gas prices, regional nonprofits said things are generally business as usual.
Terri Tirk, program director for Butler Meals on Wheels, said the program fortunately has managed to keep all of its volunteers on board thus far.
“I can’t say enough great things about our volunteers,” Tirk said in an email. “We have nearly 200 volunteers who continue to pull together to make sure that the Butler homebound community is helped.”
Cody Slater, director of transportation for Alliance for Nonprofit Resources — which operates a rideshare program and Butler Area Rural Transit — said the increase is frustrating, but only has “minimal” impact on operations.
“We are always mindful and strive to be as fuel efficient as possible in our daily operations. And, if anything, the price of the pump has put that thought process a tad more front of mind,” he said.
He added that if prices hold high in the long-term, discussions will then need to be had about the programs’ budgets and rates.
“As we sit currently, we are operating business as usual to get Butler County residents where they need to go as safely and efficiently as we can,” he said.
