PHOENIX — Arizona school districts were reworking transportation budgets in early October as diesel prices climbed with the broader energy spike.
Cronkite News reported that districts across the state were looking for ways to contain fuel spending while keeping yellow-bus service running for students who rely on it. Options under discussion included tighter routing, shared services and midyear budget shifts.
Higher diesel costs hit rural districts hardest because of longer routes. District finance officers said they were watching weekly rack prices and warning boards that spring field trips and late athletic buses could be trimmed first if prices stayed elevated.
The squeeze came on top of other education cost pressures and three weeks before voters decide statewide and local races that shape school funding.
Sources: Saguaro Signal / Cronkite News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
