UTICA - Proof that the economy is hurting everyone, the Utica School District, along with most districts in the Mohawk Valley, will have to increase the price of a school lunch next fall by 25 cents.

Starting July 1, the annual bid price for three major necessities to feed the 7,500 students in the Utica School District, will increase nearly $40,000.

"We're going to have an increase of $28,000 for all of our milk products, and an $8,000 increase for all of our bread products," said Karen Pulice, Food Service Supervisor.

Add another $3,000 for trays that are a petroleum-based product, and the school district will have to budget an extra $39,000 next year.

The good news is those fees are guaranteed not to increase again. However, other foods can increase over night.

"Produce, grocery supplies, those things change month to month based on what the current market price is," Pulice said.

Not only is the price of food going up, but of course the price of gas continues to rise. Because of that, school officials say for the first time that they are paying a gas fee to the company who delivers the food to the district.

"Each vendor is different," Pulice said. "One vendor can charge you $14 gas surcharge another vendor can charge you a $5 gas surcharge. it just depends on the vendor, how far they have to go, where they come from, if they are local, if they come from Syracuse. that's at their discretion."

Schools officials say the 15 cent increase for breakfast, and the 25 cents increase for lunch is not going in the pockets of the school district. Instead, the money will help level out the added costs they will see next year.