An Augusta Commission committee decided Monday not to discuss cutting back on commissioners' and city gasoline budgets and put the issue in City Administrator Fred Russell's hands.

The gasoline consumption issue was triggered two weeks ago by Commissioner Jerry Brigham's proposal to reduce commissioners' free gasoline allotment to 50 gallons per month from 125 gallons per month because of escalating fuel prices. That prompted Commissioner Alvin Mason last week to propose reducing the city's fuel usage 25 percent across the board, which Mr. Russell and other officials said would wreak havoc on public safety and other city operations, such as transit.

The city is expected to go over its $3.85 million fuel budget in September.

Mr. Brigham then proposed reducing gasoline usage for city operations except public safety. Both proposals were scheduled to come up during Monday's finance committee meeting, but Mayor Pro Tem Betty Beard's motion to refer the matter to Mr. Russell passed unanimously.

In other action, the committee voted to spend $20,000 and donate $5,000 in in-kind contributions to help host the 2009 National Science Olympiad at Augusta State University. Mr. Russell said the event would generate $1.5 million in the Augusta economy.

Mr. Brigham, Mrs. Beard and Mr. Mason voted for the expenditures. Commissioner Joe Bowles voted against them. He said the money should have come from hotel-motel taxes, possibly from the amount allotted to the Coliseum Authority.

The generous mood continued with the committee voting to donate a 1996 Crown Victoria to the Matthews Volunteer Fire Department in Jefferson County. The committee also waived penalties on two property-tax accounts.