Transportation update: officials outline bus-replacement goals and funding concerns

Mr. Holland provided the committee with the district’s approach to bus replacement, cost estimates and funding options. ‘‘Based off of this year, we we would need to get to the 19. We’re gonna be at 17 this year, so we’re pretty close to that number,’’ Mr. Holland said, describing the district’s multi-year replacement cycle goals. He said the district’s long-term target is roughly a 15-year replacement cycle, although the expected result for the coming year is closer to a 16–17-year cycle.

On unit costs, Mr. Holland estimated a new bus at about $155,000. He noted the district supplements purchases with lower-cost used buses (examples cited included vehicles from Oklahoma) and described several funding sources: portions from the operating budget, year-end surplus reappropriation and, when used previously, county capital funds.

From the finance perspective, a committee member said the board reappropriated a year-end surplus last year, which yielded about $720,000 that helped acquire buses. ‘‘We had $720,000 left over,’’ the finance speaker said, describing the reappropriation request to the county.

Several committee members and Dr. Hummer raised concern about a prior county practice of using capital dollars to purchase buses and then not restoring those capital funds the following year. Mr. Holland and others said the district must ensure capital funds are replenished if the county shifts capital dollars to near-term purchases. The committee discussed the possibility of larger revenue options tied to a 1% sales-tax referendum mentioned during the exchange.

No formal funding decision was made at the committee meeting; staff will continue to explore purchase options, replacement schedules and funding sources and will report back to the board.

What’s next: Staff will continue planning purchases (new and used) and will monitor funding options, including possible county or referendum actions.