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The cost of getting kids to school in Saskatchewan is climbing fast and school divisions are starting to feel the squeeze.
From the price of new buses to the cost of fuel and repairs, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association said transportation is becoming an increasing financial pressure across the province.
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“A 53-passenger bus in 2020 was $120,000; the ones being delivered now are $180,000,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
That’s roughly a 50 per cent increase in just five years, and it doesn’t stop there.
“The cost for parts has doubled from $320,000 to $630,000,” Davidson said, pointing to rising maintenance expenses in his home division.
Costs can escalate quickly in a province like Saskatchewan, where long rural routes and gravel roads are the norm. Buses rack up kilometres daily, wear down faster and need constant upkeep.
“Every time the price of fuel increases by one cent, that is a $10,000 a year expense,” Davidson said, referencing Prairie South School Division.
With fuel prices having increased by about 40 cents in recent weeks, that could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in added costs for some divisions if prices stay high.
While tariffs have played a role more recently, Davidson says the price increases go beyond that. Inflation, more complex vehicle builds, and new federal safety requirements are all contributing.
One upcoming change could push prices even higher.
New Transport Canada rules will require 360-degree cameras on future school buses a feature Davidson says could add another $20,000 per vehicle.
“They’re a good idea but in our context, they’re challenging to use,” he said, noting dirt and dust on rural roads can limit how effective those cameras are.
School divisions typically replace buses on a cycle, often around every 12 years, meaning these higher prices will continue to impact budgets year after year. Despite the rising costs, Davidson says there are some encouraging signs.
The provincial government has recently increased transportation funding, acknowledging the growing pressure. Still, with uncertainty around fuel prices and no indication that bus costs will come down anytime soon, school divisions are watching closely.
“There’s always hope,” Davidson said when asked if prices could decrease, “but I don’t think there’s a lot of confidence that that might happen.”
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