PITTSBURGH -- City vehicles, including mowers, fire department cruisers, emergency services vehicles and garbage trucks, all run on fuel that has jumped tremendously in price since the beginning of this year.

"It will hurt our bottom line," said Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

The fuel budget has jumped $600,000 this year from $3.3 million to $3.8 million.

It won't affect the city's operation, the mayor said, especially when it comes to critical services, such as garbage and street repaving. But, the money is going to have to come from somewhere, whether as an advance against the city's 2009 capitol budget or by shifting money from other departments to the fuel budget.

It certainly will not come from the Public Works, which according to its director, Guy Costa, is already experiencing additional pain as the paving costs have gone up.

"In the past, we were paying around $165,000 per mile. Now, we're paying anywhere from $225,000 to $250,000.

According to budget director Scott Kunka, the city is moving aggressively toward alternative fuel vehicles. City officials are also trying to break some habits like not letting vehicles sit running on idle, burning gas when they're not actually in use.