Toll increase would impact RCS especially on the heels of gas price spike 

The proposed hike in Thruway tolls will impact RCS and other schools.

At least a dozen RCS buses travel the Thruway each day shuttling students to and from school and schools outside of the district. Additional trips are made for sporting events and field trips.

RCS Head Bus Driver Kevin Williams said the district pays in excess of $700 a month in tolls through the district’s EZ Pass fare accounts.

The Thruway Authority is considering a package that recommends proceeding with a previously approved toll increase averaging 10 percent in January, followed by 5 percent increases in each of the following two years.

The Thruway fare increase is not the only stress on the transportation budget at RCS.

Just last week, Transportation Director Janice Prior reported that fuel costs are on pace to cause a $67,100 shortfall in the fuel budget.

Since July 23 - the first delivery of diesel this school year - the price per gallon of diesel fuel has increased 46 cents up to $2.81 per gallon under state contract. Meanwhile, the price of unleaded fuel increased 23 cents per gallon between August 27 and October 24 - the first delivery of the school year and the most recent delivery, Prior said. 

Overall, the district's fuel budget for the school year is $280,000 while based on delivery prices; the projected fuel costs for the year are $347,180 prior said.