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Sahuarita may cut the municipal work week by a day and add two hours to the remaining four days as a way of going "green."

At its regular meeting Monday night, the Town Council directed the town staff to survey employees' opinions about the Monday-through-Thursday workweek and to analyze the proposal. Sahuarita's Police Department would not be affected.

If Sahuarita shortens the workweek, it may be the first municipality in Pima County to do so in response to high gas prices, a move other Arizona communities and states have taken.

Councilwoman Marty Moreno introduced the idea in an effort to minimize the town's "carbon footprint." Before the meeting, Moreno listed several potential benefits.

Employees will save money and gas by driving to work one less day while working 10-hour days. The town will save money and electricity by closing one day. And residents will be able to do business at Town Hall in the extra hours town offices are open, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., she said.

"The more cars we can take off the roads, the better," Moreno said.

Government can play a major role in reducing its impact on the environment, said Mayor Lynne Skelton before Monday night's Town Council meeting.

"We have to set the example," Skelton said.

She said Moreno's proposal has merit as a benefit to employees and residents. "But it has to make dollars and sense," Skelton added.

There are questions that need answers, said Skelton.

For example, will the town save money if it shuts down on Friday but extends office hours on the other four days?

"That's one of the unknowns," Town Manager Jim Stahle said Tuesday.

To make the shortened workweek effective, town offices would have to be completely "dark" on Fridays, and the town would need an effective publicity campaign to inform residents of the change.

Some residents will be frustrated by the changes, and if people do come on a Friday when the offices are closed, they won't be happy, Stahle said.

However, he added, "without a doubt" town employees would prefer the four-day workweek. And residents are likely to appreciate town offices' expanded hours, he said.

Across Arizona, Queen Creek, Avondale and Bullhead City have taken similar actions. Last month Utah's governor announced that non-essential state government offices will go to a four-day workweek beginning next month. And Birmingham, Ala., put its city employees on a shorter week starting July 1.

The staff committee that will study the proposal includes Finance Director A.C. Marriotti, Human Resources Administrator Debbie Bice and Joseph Marques, executive assistant to the town manager. The committee may return to the council on August 25 with its report, and the council could take action then.