How rising diesel prices are affecting San Antonio area school bus budgets – KSAT

How rising diesel prices are affecting San Antonio area school bus budgets  KSAT

Rising diesel prices are increasing transportation costs for Northside ISD and North East ISD as districts look ahead to fuel budgets and school bus operations. SAN ANTONIO – For school districts, higher fuel prices can mean a much bigger bill than what drivers see when they fill up their personal vehicles. School buses travel thousands of miles every day, and transportation departments must budget for the fuel needed to get students to and from school, athletic events, field trips, and other activities. According to AAA, diesel is selling for about $5.72 per gallon in Texas. That’s a big jump from last year’s $3.21 per gallon. For North East Independent School District, Bill Harrison, the district’s Executive Director, said they are seeing the increase directly from diesel prices when reviewing their budget and expenses.

“We’re paying about $2.10 more a gallon than we were about a year ago,” said Harrison. He told KSAT reporter Alexis Scott that NEISD buses travel about 16,500 to 17,000 miles each day. The district uses roughly 9,000 to 10,000 gallons of fuel each week, depending on field trips, football games and other activities. And yes, that fuel use is reflected in the district’s budget. The district, Harrison said, budgeted $1.6 million for fuel this school year. He added the district had already spent about $1 million