School District’s fuel costs expected to rise nearly 50 percent next year

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 | 7:31 a.m.

Fuel costs for the Clark County School District will increase nearly 50 percent to $11.5 million for the 2006-07 fiscal year, budget figures show.

Transportation Director Ron DeSpenza, who has been with the district for 16 years, said he believed the increase was unprecedented.

The School Board will vote today on an operating budget of $1.96 billion. Student enrollment is expected to top 300,000 with an increase of 11,604 students. Nine new schools will open in August.

Enrollment growth - creating the need for additional buses and transportation routes - is to blame for just 7 percent of the increased fuel budget, said Kathy Foster, business manager for the district.

The district expects to buy nearly 3.5 million gallons of diesel fuel in the coming fiscal year, up from the current annual usage estimate of 3.3 million.

Increasing fuel prices is the larger culprit, Foster said.

The district's buses run on fuel that is 20 percent biodiesel - recycled cooking oil collected from commercial kitchens and Strip resorts - and 80 percent petroleum. The state requires public buses to use at least 5 percent biodiesel, which produces less emissions but is more expensive than regular fuel.

The district was paying $2.55 per gallon for diesel this week. Like other public entities, the district is not subject to fuel taxes.

The district budget currently sets aside $7.8 million to gas up its 1,200 buses. The fleet grows by about 100 buses a year.