The fiscal advisory committee heard that the district’s transportation costs include a scheduled contract escalation and long‑term changes in fleet planning.

Dr. Clifton Dancy and Jeremy Lamoth explained that a transportation contract signed three years ago phases in increases and that a roughly 6% increase this year reflects that pre-agreed escalation. "That does have a 6% increase but that is due to the contract that we signed 3 years ago," the facilities/transportation staff said.

Members also asked whether the district owns buses; staff confirmed the district does not own buses and contracts service from First Student. Separately, district staff said they received notice and a deposit from First Student to proceed with electric-bus infrastructure, with the district expecting the charging infrastructure built this year and buses entering service next year. That initiative, staff said, will affect regular education transportation and could reduce some operating costs over time but does not address all special-education transport needs.

Ending: Officials said they will include transportation contract escalations and electric-bus timing in forthcoming budget materials and that any bus‑owning option would require further analysis of maintenance, storage and personnel costs.