Public school parents will pay more for their kids to ride the school bus come next year after the state Board of Education voted 8-2 tonight to raise one-way fares from 35 cents to 75 cents.
The move reversed a decision two months ago, when a similar proposal to more than double fees died after members were deadlocked in a tie vote. The state Department of Education’s dwindling budget, and the estimated $12 million deficit of the bus transportation system, appeared to have swayed members to support increasing fees.
The annual pass to ride the school bus will increase from $119.60 to $225. The new fees go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
Voting no tonight were Karen Knudsen and John Penebacker.
The fare increase comes at a time when the state Department of Education agreed to 17 days of furloughs for public school teachers to address some $227 million in budget cuts.
Two board members said tonight that the board should consider phasing out bus transportation for public schools completely. State law does not require the school system to provide bus service, although some special education students are entitled to transportation under their “Individual Education Plans.”