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Diesel Surge Squeezes School Bus Budgets
29 Sep
Summary
- Diesel prices have increased by 20% in the last month.
- Fuel costs for school buses have nearly doubled in two years.
- State aid for inflated costs is only 2-3%, insufficient for rising diesel prices.
Diesel fuel prices have surged by 20% in the last month, dramatically outpacing the 11% increase in gasoline. This sharp rise presents a dire situation for school bus operators like Northstar Bus Lines, where fuel expenses for their Blaine operation have nearly doubled over two years. Invoices show a jump from $3,817 for a two-day supply in June to $6,061 by September.
School districts are facing immense budget pressures as a result. The Minnesota Legislature offers a meager 2-3% increase for inflated costs, which is inadequate given that diesel prices have risen 85% year to date. This necessitates difficult conversations with taxpayers and school boards to find additional funding sources for unexpected, substantial cost increases.
Operators are exploring cost-saving measures, such as reducing bus idling times, but these are only seasonal solutions. The fundamental challenge remains how to address the escalating fuel expenses that threaten to significantly impact school budgets and services.
