Like many areas throughout the nation, Loudoun County is feeling the pinch in its budget, due to escalating gas prices and the slump in its housing market.

Budgets are being tightened to preserve funds for essential public service transportation such as police cars, ambulances and school buses. But county officials say there is not a lot they can do to save money. Children still need to be transported to and from school, and residents feel safer when police cruisers patrol the streets.

Escalating gas prices may also lead to field trips and other extracurricular activites being curtailed in the public school system.

But local government agencies have the advantage of lower gas bills than consumers by being exempt from gas taxes. They also can save money by pooling resources.

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