West Virginia's 55 county school systems use about six million gallons of diesel fuel each year to run their 3,000 buses. And at about $4.38 per gallon, the costs are really adding up.

School systems are dipping into reserve funds because they've busted their transportation budgets for this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The state Department of Education is asking legislators for a $5 million supplemental appropriation to help counties pay skyrocketing fuel costs for the current fiscal year.

While the request doesn't specifically ask for a special session, Governor Joe Manchin's spokeswoman says he's considering calling one.

The money the state allocates to counties to cover transportation costs is based on what was paid two years ago.

Ben Shew is executive director of the Office of School Transportation. He says since the 2005-2006 school year, the retail price for diesel fuel has gone up $1.52 a gallon.

Kanawha County, the largest school system in the state, has had to put another $350,000 in its transportation budget to cover its anticipated shortfall. Transportation Supervisor David Pauley says that money is dwindling fast. The county paid $200,000 last month alone to fuel its 195 buses.