Lakeland Adds $600K for Fuel as Diesel Costs Soar

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Lakeland residents aren’t the only ones feeling pain at the pump.

City commissioners on Monday approved a $600,000 change order to cover higher-than-expected fuel costs for city vehicles through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

The increase nearly doubles the city’s original $700,700 fuel budget, with $500,000 added for diesel and $100,000 for unleaded gasoline. City documents say the diesel allocation — initially set at $400,000 — is already nearly exhausted.

“The $400,000 that was allocated this year for diesel is now nearly spent, and that’s due to just worldwide and economic conditions and the current price of fuel,” City Manager Shawn Sherrouse told commissioners.

According to AAA data, the average price of diesel in Polk County was $5.44 per gallon Monday — down slightly from last week, but still about 53.7% higher than at the start of the year, when the local average was $3.54.

Prices have surged globally since Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched their joint attack on Iran.