Snow Days In Georgia?

The State of Georgia is taking some extraordinary measures to reduce fuel consumption due to shortages (and rising costs) as a result of Hurricanes Karina and Rita:

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue Friday asked the state's schools to take two "early snow days" and cancel classes Monday and Tuesday to help conserve gasoline as Hurricane Rita threatens the nation's fuel supply line.

If all of Georgia's schools close, the governor estimated about 250,000 gallons of diesel fuel would be saved each day by keeping buses off the road.

Perdue also said an undetermined amount of regular gasoline also would be saved by allowing teachers, other school staff and some parents to stay home. He says electricity also would be conserved by keeping the schools closed.

It's up to each school superintendent to decide whether to call off classes. The governor said, "If Georgians stick together, work together and conserve together we can weather whatever problems Rita brings our way with the least possible inconvenience."

As he did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Perdue asked the state's residents, and ordered government agencies, to limit nonessential travel and use commute alternatives including telecommuting, car pooling and four-day work weeks. He said if demand is reduced, "we will have enough market power to hold prices down. All together, we can influence demand within our state."

As prices spiraled after Hurricane Katrina, Perdue suspended the state's gas tax and the Legislature quickly approved the measure in a special session, saving motorists an estimated 15 cents per gallon. The tax is scheduled to return a week from Saturday.

All but four school districts in Georgia have already decided to comply with the Governor's wishes.

Out here in California, a number of federal, state, and local taxes are added to the price of gasoline. After all that, the state imposes a sales tax on top of everything.

That's right. We pay a tax on a tax.

Update: (09/25) Jenny D. is reporting on a Kentucky proposal to shorten the school week to four days in order to conserve fuel and allow teachers to get their cars repaired. --------------------View the latest edition of The Carnival Of Education, hosted here at The Wonks, as well as entry instructions for next week's edition right here.

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