During the South Kingstown Town Council meeting on December 9, 2024, a significant discussion centered around the potential cost savings of owning school buses. Local resident Darryl highlighted that the town could save approximately $3 million annually by investing in its own fleet of buses and hiring drivers and maintenance staff. Currently, the town spends about $5.8 million on transportation services, which could be drastically reduced if they transitioned to owning their buses.

Darryl emphasized that this change would not only alleviate financial burdens on taxpayers but also improve the efficiency of school transportation, especially with the upcoming opening of a new high school in September 2025. He urged the council to consider this proposal seriously, framing it as a necessary step to ensure that taxpayers are not shouldering excessive costs.

In addition to this key discussion, Town Manager Jim provided updates on various town matters, although specific details from his report were not highlighted in the transcript. Notably, Council Member Bergner was absent from the meeting, which was acknowledged at the start.

The meeting underscored the ongoing efforts of the Town Council to explore cost-effective solutions for community services, with the potential bus ownership proposal standing out as a proactive approach to managing public funds. As the town prepares for future developments, residents will be keen to see how these discussions translate into actionable plans that benefit the community.