I think a band saw would be your best bet. In your price range, you can buy a decent quality older (used) vertical band saw, or a crappy quality (new) combination horizontal/vertical one. The problem with most new band saws in your price range are that they are all Chinese junk, but the combination saws can be handy, especially if you are going to be cutting any bar stock. We have one at work, but over the last decade it has been modified with a higher horsepower motor, a double pulley/belt system, and flood coolant. What started out as a $200 band saw is now a $1000 band saw, but at least it is somewhat seviceable.
(For reference, we have a new, fully automatic horizontal band saw being delivered Wednesday. Price? $22K delivered.
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Another option if you want really long, straight cuts, is to have your local steel/fab shop cut it on their shear. IIRC, mine charges me something like $10 a cut if you buy the material from them. Get to know them a bit and bring in a six pack or donuts once in a while, and you can likely get some "preferential" pricing.
Have fun.