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Cabarrus school board adjusts bus rate
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Published: October 7, 2009
CONCORD — The Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education decided on Monday to make the activity bus rate $1 per mile but did not vote on it so it can be easily adjusted for any changes in fuel prices.
The rate is charged by the system to individual schools when they use buses for purposes such as athletic games and field trips.
In September, the school system reduced the rate from last year's $1.90 to $1.56 per mile, due to lower fuel prices.
At the board's last meeting, member Tim Furr proposed reducing it to 93 cents, because he said the remaining costs should be covered by other funds.
Board members had also considered charging $1.56 for trips that were more than 50 miles, and 93 cents for local traveling.
The board decided to keep one rate because school bands usually travel more for competitions.
"(Bands) go farther because, sometimes, that's what it takes to compete," board member Andrea Palo said. "I do have a concern about the higher rate. I don't think that's fair because they don't get any of the gate (revenue for athletic games)."
Palo suggested keeping the rate the same for all distances, and other board members agreed.
The board favored a lower rate, especially after finding out what the additional costs paid for.
The actual cost of the activity bus is 93 cents, said Jim Amendum, assistant superintendent.
Previously, the remaining funds that did not cover the activity bus's cost has paid for items such as mechanic uniform services, bus driver mileage bonus and a shortfall from the state budget cap charged to local funds.
Amendum estimated if the rate is left at $1.56, there would be $107,100 more remaining to pay for those items than if the rate was 93 cents.
Board member Cindy Fertenbaugh said these should be covered in the regular budgets and not by the activity bus rate. Other members, including vice chair Wayne Williams, agreed.
"The $107,100, is being used for things that schools shouldn't have to subsidize," Williams said. "That should be built into our transportation budget."
Amendum said it had been set up that way years ago and was not changed because of the rigid state budget cap.
The board decided $1 was low enough and would cover changes in fuel prices.
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