The Caddo Parish School Board’s budget for the upcoming school year is approximately $13 million higher than the current year’s spending plan, driven in part by a 6% pay raise for employees, special education, and rising transportation costs.

Transportation Costs Increase

School officials say one of the biggest, unexpected expenses came from fuel prices, which significantly impacted the district’s transportation budget. The district’s fleet of school buses has been particularly affected, with it now costing about $500 to fill a single school bus, creating significant budget pressures as fuel prices climbed.

Despite the increase, the Caddo Parish Transportation Director Jeff Roberts said the district budgeted conservatively for fuel expenses in the coming year. Roberts said if the transportation department ends the school year with a budget surplus, the remaining funds will be returned to the district’s general fund.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.