The Fargo School District could save $8,000 this year in a deal to fuel its cars, vans and other vehicles at the city of Fargo's central garage.

The Fargo School District could save $8,000 this year in a deal to fuel its cars, vans and other vehicles at the city of Fargo's central garage.

In the agreement, expected to begin Sunday or soon thereafter, about 45 School District vehicles will fuel up at the garage at 402 23rd St. N., said Jim Frueh, director of maintenance and operations for the School District.

Frueh said even with a small surcharge on the fuel, the district will save cash over what it pays for fuel at two service stations.

"It's taxpayers' money and we're trying to do the best we can with it," he said.

Frueh said there are other advantages, too. The fuel service is available 24 hours a day, important when plowing school parking lots after snowfalls, and the city has software that records mileage on vehicles, useful for tracking a vehicle's gas mileage and keeping it on a maintenance schedule.

Frueh said it will also be difficult for an employee to commit fraud by improperly charging gas, though "that hasn't been a problem."

Harold Pederson, fleet services manager for Fargo, said fuel charges will vary, depending on what the city pays. He said, the district will initially pay $1.80.5 for unleaded gasoline, $2.15.4 for regular diesel and $1.95.8 for off-road diesel (used for equipment such as payloaders and graders).

Pederson said Fargo has 400 licensed vehicles (not including heavy equipment), so the School District's vehicles will have little effect on operations.

Pederson and Frueh said the agreement could extend to vehicle maintenance if both sides agreed to it.

The School District's buses are not included in the agreement because bus service is contracted with a local firm, Frueh said.

The City Commission approved the agreement unanimously Monday as part of its consent agenda.