News 12 First at Five; July 7, 2008

SOUTH CAROLINA --- Just a few weeks from the start of school, South Carolina could soon be facing a $12 million deficit in money to school the state's school buses.

We're talking about 5,700 buses and about 12.5 million gallons of fuel, that's what it takes to get your kids to school. But, by Christmas this year, the buses could be running on fumes.

Everyone -- including 7-year-old Russell -- knows gas prices are sky high.

"It's kind of hard, it's real hard. A lot of single parents (are) really getting ready to feel the heat right now," says parent of 3, Carrie Richardson.

School buses, what many of you rely on to get your kids to school, could soon be out of service and more than your wallet could take a hit.

"Me being late for work, losing my job behind it," says Carrie.

Real big problems Carrie and the state are trying to avoid.

"If you've got a pinch filling up one car or two, you can imagine what it's like for us with 5,700 buses. It's a lot bigger problem," says Jim Foster, the State Department of Education Spokesman.

The state, right now, is paying $4.08 per gallon of gas for the buses. If the price goes up $0.08 that's an extra million dollars they spend during the upcoming school year.

"There's a lot of concern when the price of fuel goes up in the way it's been going up," says Jim.

So, the Governor just set aside an extra $19.2 million to help fuel the buses, but that might last only until Christmas. Then, a request may be made to spend $10.7 million on fuel. That's money already set aside for new school buses in the state.

If you add all of that up, the state is still going to cap out in a $12 million hole and that's if gas prices stay where they are today.

So, where will the money come from to keep the school bus wheels turning?

"We're confident the General Assembly is not going to let the buses stop," says Jim.

"A lot of people are going to have to put it in God's hands," says Carrie.

Senator Shane Massey tells News 12, there is a possibility lawmakers could go back into session before the November elections if the fuel runs out. He says, this is a result of poor spending coming back to haunt the state.

Just last year, Senator Massey says the state had a $1.5 billion surplus in about a $7 billion budget. But, that money was spent and is no longer available.

State workers in Aiken County say they aren't sure what is going to happen and the deficit might be a lot more than the state is saying right now. They say they are going to try to maintain the buses to use as little gas as possible.