Iran war sends Austin ISD diesel costs soaring

• And now the district is projecting diesel for its buses will cost nearly $2 million more this fiscal year than last year, according to a briefing superintendent Matias Segura is scheduled to give the school board Thursday evening.

By the numbers: The district has spent $445,000 on diesel so far this school year, compared with $245,000 during the same period last year, per data obtained by Axios through a request under the Texas Public Information Act.

State of play: Diesel was going for $5.93 a gallon yesterday in the Austin area, per AAA.

• That's up from $3.12 a year ago.

Context: Austin ISD's operating budget is $887 million, making the diesel uptick a drop in the bucket.

Yes, but: That budget involved a $205 million cut in operating expenses.

• Last year, state lawmakers increased teacher pay and per-student funding, but public school advocates warned it wouldn't be enough to make ends meet after years of stagnant state funding and rising costs.
• Meanwhile, driven by Gov. Greg Abbott, lawmakers earmarked $1 billion in taxpayer money for private schools through a newly created voucher program.

The bottom line: All geopolitics is local.