Rapid City isn't adopting a four-daywork week anytime soon, despite a proposal last month from Alderman Bob Hurlbut to consider the scheduling arrangement as a potential means to save money.

The city's public works committee tabled the issue Tuesday.

Hurlbut isn't sure the idea was given adequate consideration, but he said he has been assured that flexible scheduling is an option already available to department directors. He said a cost-benefit analysis would be helpful, but he isn't ready to pay a professional consultant to do it at this point.

Also, he said, because the city's fuel expenditures are still a small part of the overall budget, he doesn't believe significant savings would be achieved by forcing departments to reorganize. However, if gas prices and the cost of materials continue to increase, it may become important to reconsider a four-day week.

"But at this time, it's been considered, it's been brought to people's attention as a possibility, and we can let people adjust at this point," he said.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com