Friday, March 25, 2005 - This has not been a "Good Friday" for some in Nassau West. Today saw Nassau West One being towed away, unable to make a trip under its own power.

Evidently the President's personal vehicle became unable to operate due to a leaking water pump. According to the people repairing the vehicle, it needs new upper and lower radiator hoses, and oil change, and a transmission fluid flush. Total bill for all of this, almost $700!

Because of current budget concerns, the Department of Administration (DOA) only approved funds ($382.82) for the water pump. Apparently the rest of the repairs will be done on an as-needed basis, if at all.

With recent gas prices again topping two dollars a gallon ($2.15 at last check), the DOA is again considering eliminating the current Nassau West One from the fleet, and replacing it with a newer and much more fuel efficient vehicle.

Presently the Department of Transportation is investigating the possibility of replacing the aging Nassau West One with a smaller vehicle from Kia. The models being considered are the Rio and the Spectra. With the current vehicle loan being substantially "upside down," a trade-in would be the only way to dispose of the existing vehicle.

With a trade-in and the trade deficit being added to the new purchase, the monthly payments would be about the same, or slightly higher. Insurance, on the other hand, would increase dramatically as the new vehicle would be worth more, and would therefore cost more to insure.

The hope at this time is for the fuel efficiency to offset the extra expenses. The Nassau West Department of Administration has recently predicted that by summer's end, unleaded gasoline will be in excess of $2.75 per gallon in Southern Arizona. Currently, it costs about twenty dollars a day in fuel to travel roundtrip from Benson to Tucson and back.

Nassau West One only gets about ten miles to the gallon. One of the newer and smaller Kias get almost thirty miles per gallon - a vast improvement in fuel cost.