State Schools Being Hit By High Fuel Prices

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma school officials say they may have to deplete their carryover funds to cover fuel prices that are approaching $3 a gallon.<br/><br/>The state Board of Education submitted

Monday, May 15th 2006, 6:18 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma school officials say they may have to deplete their carryover funds to cover fuel prices that are approaching $3 a gallon.

The state Board of Education submitted a $9.3-million supplemental budget request to the Oklahoma Legislature, but Education Department spokeswoman Shelly Hickman says lawmakers didn't act on it.

Unless someone attaches the request to a bill, individual districts would mostly likely be responsible for the higher tab.

According to the AAA, Oklahomans paid an average of more than $2.67 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline Sunday.

Though many districts such as Oklahoma City, Moore and Putnam City enjoy fuel discounts from buying in bulk, Tulsa uses a fuel management service that allows drivers to use a card to buy fuel on credit at pre-approved locations at a discounted price.

So far this year Tulsa has spent more than $1.17-million on fuel alone, a 21 percent increase over the previous year.