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Beacon district outlines electric-bus pilot, seeks bus proposition and charger funding
Summary
District officials said two EV buses delivered in 2025 are in regular use, reported about 80 miles range in cold weather, and asked the board to consider a $688,000 bus proposition (including a wheelchair van) while noting infrastructure and grant offsets.
The Beacon City School District presented an update on its electric-bus pilot and a proposed vehicle proposition during the Jan. 28 board workshop.
A transportation presenter told the board the district purchased two electric buses in 2024 that were delivered in 2025 and are now in service: one runs three daily routes (high school, middle school and an elementary) and the other covers an out-of-district run. "We are physically using both of the EV buses," the presenter said, adding drivers report the buses are quieter and that they saw about 80 miles of range in the recent cold weather.
District staff said the higher upfront cost for EV buses was offset by a New York State grant applied by the bus vendor, bringing the net cost for two buses with chargers to roughly $400,000–$450,000. The presenter described the grant amount as about $225,000–$250,000 and noted installation of chargers and software added timeline and cost complexity; a small general-fund payment covered minor electrician work.
Board members and staff stressed a separate, urgent need for a wheelchair van. The presenter asked the board to include one wheelchair-accessible van, two 72-passenger diesel buses and two small school vans in the upcoming bus proposition; the presenter estimated the total proposition cost at about $688,000 before trade-in values and said the surplus list includes buses from model years 2011–2016.
Financing for bus purchases would follow the district’s typical practice of bond anticipation notes with state transportation aid reimbursing roughly half the cost over five years, staff said. The presenter said spreading payments in this way smooths the levy and reduces large spikes for taxpayers.
The board also discussed state policy and infrastructure constraints. Officials said a governor-led push toward zero-emission bus procurement will affect future purchases and that there is a waiver application due March 1 for districts needing extra time; staff said the district must coordinate with Central Hudson on electrical capacity at its garage before expanding the EV fleet. Board members asked for a draft timeline, rough cost estimates for charger installation, and full fleet data to compare current vehicles and spare needs.
No binding vote on the bus proposition was taken at the workshop. The board was told staff will return with additional details and a draft timeline in February for public notices and any proposition that would appear to voters.
