High gas prices have Augusta buses running on empty.

Monday Augusta's Public Transit Director, Heyward Johnson, told county leaders he only has enough money to keep buses running about two more months.

He asked county leaders for $370,000 to make ends meet. But city leaders said 'no'.

They're asking him to double check his budget to find the money other places. The transit director says a long term solution may be raising bus fees. But it's not a popular option.

"I work part time and my fee a week is over $10. I can't afford it because I don't work that many hours," said one bus rider.

City leaders will give $25,000 in emergency funds to help the buses keep running the next few weeks.

But they want Johnson and the county administrator to meet and solve the problem without dipping into emergency funds. A proposal on how much to raise fees won't come until later this year.