By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – It's costing school districts in Missouri more money to take students to and from school.
District leaders are scouring their budgets for areas to cut to make up the cost.
Many school buses run on diesel fuel, which AAA says is averaging $2.39 a gallon in Missouri. That's up 37% from August, 2004. Prices for regular gasoline have had similar jumps.
Some districts are trying to save money by asking schools to share buses for field trips and making sure routes are efficient.
In St. Joseph, chief financial officer Janet Pullen says the district spent $185,000 for fuel last year. For the upcoming year, the district has $356,000 in the budget for fuel. And if that's not enough, Pullen says cuts might be needed elsewhere in the district's budget.