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District weighs buying or leasing buses after $70,000 charter spend
Summary
Staff told the subcommittee the district spent about $70,000 on charter buses last year and proposed options including purchasing a bus or selling recently bought buses and leasing them back to reduce outsourcing and maintenance costs.
Staff reported that the district spent nearly $70,000 on charter buses in the past year and discussed alternatives to reduce those recurring costs, including buying additional buses or using lease‑back arrangements. "We spent close to 70,000, something like that, with regards to charter buses this last year," said Miles Malone during the subcommittee meeting.
Committee members noted advantages to leasing (reduced heavy‑maintenance obligations, replacement schedules) and suggested staff prepare a proposal for a future subcommittee that compares the lifecycle cost of adding district buses versus continued chartering. Staff said some vendors will buy existing buses and lease them back, which can reduce upfront capital outlay but requires warranty and mileage considerations.
Members asked for a comparative analysis showing total cost of ownership, maintenance, and downtime to determine whether in‑house fleet expansion or different leasing terms would be more cost‑effective than current chartering arrangements.
