11-7-13 propane vehicles

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is turning to propane-powered squad cars in an attempt to cut costs.  Provisions in the 2014 county budget allocate $52,000 to purchase and install propane conversion kits on eight squad cars and $10,000 to build a propane filling station on the highway department grounds.  The change allows the sheriff's department to budget about $268,000 for fuel this year, down 6.3 percent from more than $286,000 in the 2013 budget.  Sheriff John Matz says the county will save $12,000 in fuel costs over the lifespan of each vehicle. The department is expected to save about $138,000 annually in fuel costs when the agency's 23 squad cars convert.