The Clinton County Legislature discussed a contract to provide preschool transportation services during its July 16 meeting, with multiple legislators and staff raising concerns about sharply higher costs, an absence of competing bids and longer-term sustainability.

The item was introduced in the Health Committee report: the county currently pays to provide transportation for preschool children; the cost cited in committee increased from about $670,000 to $1,183,000. Jeff Sissons, director of public health, was noted in committee as discussing the request for proposal for preschool transportation services.

Why it matters: The cost increase is significant for the county budget and residents, and the record shows the county has been the responsible entity for transporting certain preschool children rather than school districts. Committee members said only one vendor historically bids for the work.

What was discussed: During floor discussion one legislator said they had voted “no” on the resolution in committee and urged searching for alternatives, including having school districts assume the transport responsibility or jointly purchasing buses. Legislators and staff raised several points: the vendor has been the sole bidder “for years,” school districts sometimes transport only 4-year-olds and not 3-year-olds, buses in local service are about 15 years old, and buying buses could change multi-year cost profiles. One commentator said the arrangement costs the county roughly $700 per day per bus for routes that, in some places, carry only a few children.

Action on the record: The motion to award the request for proposal was recorded on the floor with Legislator Lazio moving and Legislator LaVanne seconding. The provided transcript segment records extended discussion but does not include a complete roll-call tally or explicit final vote for this specific resolution in the excerpt; the committee-level vote was referenced (a legislator said they voted no in committee).

What wasn’t decided in the transcript: No formal, documented long-term solution (for example, a multiyear bus-purchase plan or formal interlocal agreement with school districts) is recorded in the provided excerpt. Staff and some legislators said further intergovernmental discussion would be required to find a sustainable model.

Ending: The legislature proceeded with other agenda items after discussion; the transcript does not show a documented final disposition for the preschool-transportation award in the provided segment.