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District moves to raise bus fares and pass online-payment fees to riders
Summary
The board received a transportation report showing rising ridership and recommended modest rate increases tied to the CPI and an online-payment surcharge. Director Skip also flagged a $10,000 transmission repair, fuel-tank relocation for safety, and ongoing partner contracts that generate supplemental revenue.
The Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary board heard a detailed presentation from transportation lead Skip on proposed fare changes for 2025–26 and operational updates for the district fleet. Skip told the board the district will align fare changes with the consumer price index and pass through a 1.5% online-payment fee to users. “So our online payment's gonna increase 1.5%,” Skip said, explaining that the card-processing charge is being passed to payers rather than absorbed by the district.
Skip reported ridership climbed this year in the district's six-year trend and noted about 20 students ride under free-or-reduced arrangements. He said the district produced $17,000 in revenue from 24 interagency field-trip contracts last year and has begun taking shuttle work for private events. On vehicle readiness, he disclosed an unexpected maintenance hit: “we needed a new transmission for bus 10, and that was $10,000,” which reduced the transportation fund balance relative to prior years.
The presentation covered mechanics and safety protocols: the district uses outside mechanics (including a technician from Watsonville) and must comply with CHP inspections every 45 days. Skip also described plans to move the district fuel tank away from a well and to paint aging buses per CHP direction. The board did not object to the proposed rate adjustments; staff will return with final figures for adoption.
What happens next: staff will refine the proposed rate tables for formal adoption and continue work on fleet maintenance and fuel-tank relocation.
