County panel allows public comment from bus contractors seeking contract support

A Rutherford County bus contractor told the Finance Committee that rising costs threaten small bus contractors and asked commissioners to support the school board’s upcoming contract negotiations.

Kim Erb, who identified herself as a Rutherford County bus contractor and a member of the local contractors’ organization, said contractors received a 14% total increase over four years while inflation and operating expenses have increased substantially. "Our labor, our maintenance, our parts, if you can even get parts, have all increased over 50%, which is really putting us in a tough spot of staying in business," Erb said. She also described a Tennessee statutory change shifting liability-insurance obligations to contractors this year and asked commissioners to be supportive of the school board as negotiations proceed.

Committee members agreed to suspend committee rules to allow the contractor to speak; the committee said the bus-contract topic would be heard last in the meeting and noted that the school board and full commission would also be appropriate venues for requests tied to contract rates. A committee member later clarified that the current four-year bus contract provided a 5% increase in the first year and 3% increases in each of the next three years (totaling the 14% described). Commissioners said they would consider the contractors’ request but noted that formal adjustments to the school bus contract are negotiated between contractors and the school board.