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Transportation costs rise: Monroe‑Woodbury projects 12% increase in contract transport and buys to replace aging fleet
Summary
Director Jessie Lazar told the board on Feb. 19 that contract transportation costs are projected to rise about 12% next year, driving most of an 11.6% departmental budget increase and prompting equipment replacements for a 20‑year‑old plow/salt truck and a garage lift.
Jessie Lazar, director of transportation, presented detailed drivers behind the proposed 2025‑26 transportation budget on Feb. 19, describing increases in contract transportation, planned equipment replacements and status of cooperative contracts.
Lazar said contract transportation demand and costs have risen: pupil counts for contract routes (resident pupils attending nonpublic and out‑of‑district placements) are up and commodity prices and CPI adjustments have increased per‑pupil contract rates. She presented a budget‑to‑budget increase in the contract transportation line from roughly $13.23 million to $14.81 million (an increase of about $1.59 million, or about 12 percent).
The proposed transportation equipment budget includes a planned replacement for a 20‑year‑old snow‑plow/salt truck (quoted at $71,357) and replacement of a 20‑year‑old garage lift (quoted at $34,175) that currently requires unsafe temporary metal supports. Lazar said the garage lift must be replaced to safely service 35‑passenger vans and to prepare for future vehicle types (including potential EV vans).
Lazar noted the district participates in an Orange‑Ulster BOCES cooperative “coaster” service to share high‑cost routes, but that the BOCES vendor recently lacked resources and the district contracted alternate vendors to ensure service — a driver of higher costs this year. The BOCES coaster contract was rebid and the district was awaiting results.
Overall the transportation program’s total proposed budget rose from about $15.01 million to about $16.75 million (roughly an 11.6 percent increase), Lazar said; the driver was primarily contract transportation costs.
Board members asked for per‑pupil cost comparisons for public vs. nonpublic transportation; Lazar did not have a ready public figure and said she would provide additional details later. No formal vote was taken; the transportation budget will be considered in the superintendent’s recommended budget in April.
