CCSD spends millions more on fuel as prices rise

Clark County School District officials say they will need millions of additional dollars to fuel its bus fleet this year as prices continue to climb. The district anticipates an extra $2.9 million in fuel expenses, which could push total annual fuel costs to approximately $18 million. Last school year, fuel spending totaled $15.1 million, an increase of $2.4 million from the year before, according to district records. In a Tuesday email, district officials stated: “Our existing fiscal outlook projects this upward inclination successful expenditure volatility to persist done the amended portion of the 2026-2027 schoolhouse year,” territory officials said. “The District is moving to sorb these costs done the Central Office fund to support backing in the classroom.” The district operates the nation’s largest district‑owned and operated bus fleet, providing service to more than 120,000 eligible riders with roughly 1,900 buses. Fuel price data from AAA shows diesel reached a record‑high average of $6.84 per gallon last week, averaging $6.82 per gallon on Wednesday. Regular unleaded gasoline in Las Vegas averaged $5.50 per gallon on Wednesday, nearing the June 2022 high of $5.61 per gallon. Analysts attribute the price surge to geopolitical tensions, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East conflict and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. Patrick De Haan, lead petroleum expert for GasBuddy, told the Las Vegas Review‑Journal: “There needs to beryllium de-escalation and the Strait of Hormuz would request to reopen and/or Ukraine would person to dilatory down attacks connected Russian refineries. That’s much impactful to the terms of diesel,” De Haan said previously. He added: “But we person these 2 large geopolitical tensions that are truly having an interaction connected prices, and things aren’t going to meaningfully amended until 1 or 2 of those commencement to improve.”