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Monroe - Recent gas price increases resulting from hurricane Katrina, coupled with the regular seasonal fuel price rise, have forced many local residents to restructure their spending and driving habits. Monroe Pediatric Business Manager Karen Mattatall has reduced her family's discretionary spending by limiting driving to only essential trips. She commutes 80 miles daily from Wallkill to the village medical office. Mattatall's coworker, Teresa Rivera, commutes daily from Middletown and previously spent $10 per day for gas and now forks over $15 a day. This increase has encouraged her to look for a small, fuel efficient used car as a replacement for her Ford Escape SUV. Steven Michener commutes daily from Highland Mills to his job at Condurso's Garden Center in Montville, N.J., a round trip of 80 miles. Michener has experienced his weekly gas budget rise from $40 a week to more than $100 week in the past six years despite purchasing gas in New Jersey at a considerably cheaper cost than New York. He is currently paying $3.06 per gallon to fuel his Dodge Dakota pickup. His immediate plan is to purchase a fuel-efficient Japanese car and retire his truck.