Gas prices cause budget bubble at RCS

District’s fuel costs have tripled in three years – exceeded budget for this year.

With five months to go in the school year, gas prices have bubbled to the top of the budget issues for RCS.

The district is on pace to surpass its $280,000 fuel budget for the year by $85,649. Through the end of last month, the spent $214,000 on diesel and unleaded fuel and another shipment is expected within a week, said Head Bus Driver Kevin Williams. That amounts to using 72,698 gallons of diesel and 7,370 gallons of unleaded fuel so far.

The last time RCS purchased fuel, which was the end of January, the district paid  $2.72 for diesel and $2.42 for unleaded. As all motorists know, the cost of fuel has jumped in the last few weeks and despite RCS purchasing fuel off of a state contract, the costs do fluctuate at the same pace as the price paid at the pump by motorists.    

The district will rely on fund balances to cover any budgetary shortfalls caused by the unexpected skyrocketing fuel prices, Assistant Superintendent Diane Albano E.d.D. reported.

Superintendent Vicki Wright has proposed increasing up to $400,000 the fuel budget in the 2008-09 spending proposal. Just four years ago, in 2004, the district spent $110,000 on fuel for its fleet of 65 buses.