"(There are) probably going to be some layoffs in the future unless the county finds a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow," Sheriff Fred Thompson said.

Thompson said paying more than $4 for a gallon of gas is painful financially, but there are many more concerns. He said the department's budget challenges keep adding up.

"Overtime is killing me," he said, adding that inmates' food is even costing more.

He said he and his deputies are doing all they can by putting two deputies in one cruiser and solving minor complaints over the phone. He said even salaried employees are working longer shifts to save on overtime.

"Tonight, it appears I'll be working the road, answering calls because I'm short-handed," Thompson said.

But that might not be enough.

"The commissioners have been gracious this year to give me a budget that we thought we could operate on," he said. "We gave over $100,000 back to the county at the end of the year -- surplus money we had. I don't think that's going to be the case this year."

No one has been laid off yet and there is no time frame on when that might happen. Thompson said that depends on the financial climate, including the price of gas.

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