You think your gas bill is high?

By MIKE HALLIDAY

Staff writer

Most people cringe –– or mutter something unprintable –– as they pull into a gas station and see the soaring prices.

Now imagine bellying up to the pump in a 40-foot school bus with a 100-gallon tank. Multiply by 136 buses that size and smaller, and you have an understanding of what Cindy Wendland is thinking about every week as the Federal Way Public Schools transportation director.

Like the rest of the driving community, the school district is paying higher prices for fuel. The district buys unleaded gas and diesel to power the buses and approximately 280 vehicles in its motorpool.

Since September 2003, the district has watched the cost of diesel rise 53 cents a gallon. Unleaded gasoline has climbed 30 cents. A gallon of unleaded gas currently costs the district $1.94 per gallon. Diesel is running $1.82 per gallon.

The school district has used 73,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline and 144,000 gallons of diesel since September, when the current school year started.

The district is requesting a $50,000 increase to its fuel budget for the next school year as it predicts a 20 percent increase in fuel costs. The school district budgeted $372,000 for fuel in this school year's budget. Sally McLean, the district's chief financial officer, said the district is within that figure despite the price increases.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), as of Thursday the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Washington is $2.26 per gallon for consumers. A month ago it was $2.16, and a year ago it was $1.55. Diesel, as of Thursday, was $2.22 per gallon and was $2.23 a month ago. This time last year, the price was $1.57.

Gas and diesel were slightly more expensive last month, according the auto association's web site.

The district pays less than the average consumer because it is part of a state contract to purchase fuel in bulk for public agencies.

Wendland said the district is seeing the prices for its fuel drop. Next week the price for unleaded and diesel will drop 6.5 cents and 12 cents, respectively.

"That's a good sign," she said.

Staff writer Mike Halliday: 925-5565, mhalliday@fedwaymirror.com

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