JEFFERSONVILLE, IN – Jeffersonville's city officials revealed city fuel spending is down about $16,265 between three major fuel-consuming departments this year, reported the Evening News and Tribune.

Compared to the same period in 2008, the Jeffersonville Police Department used 483 fewer gallons of gas in the first quarter of 2009. In contrast, the Streets and Sanitation Department used 289 more gallons of fuel during the period, and the Parks and Recreation Department used 371 more gallons of fuel. However, lower gasoline prices helped the two departments saved money despite the increased usage.

Police Chief Tim Deeringer, who became chief in early 2008, said fuel usage has simply been monitored in the last year or so.

Officers who live outside of the city must fill out a log of how they used vehicles. Additionally, the department started putting cages in the back of vehicles, so officers aren't as tempted to use them as family vehicles.

The cages - bars between the front and backseats - had been removed at some point, he said. The department started putting them back in last year.

A portion of the lower prices can be attributed to lower fuel costs. A gallon of regular gasoline is averaging about $2.31 in Indiana, on par with the national average, according to AAA, while the average national price a year ago was $3.79 per gallon, reported the Tribune.