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NYS school districts worry about finances as they look ahead to the next budget

Districts are trying to figure out how to budget for electric school buses, which cost four times as much as a diesel powered bus, and need replacement more often.
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Districts are trying to figure out how to budget for electric school buses, which cost four times as much as a diesel powered bus, and need replacement more often.

The school year is underway, and districts across Central New York are looking for state guidance to tackle a number of pressing challenges. Many of them revolve around finances, especially after the governor’s proposed changes to foundation aid in the last budget cycle. President of the New York State School Boards Association Sandra Ruffo says it’s important because 70 percent of their funding comes from foundation aid.

The governor did pull back on some of her recommendations and we kind of had a reprieve," Ruffo said. "She suggested a study to be done by the Rockefeller Institute of Government. Hearings were held and recommendations for some changes will be coming. They're not binding.”

Ruffo says the recommendations should reach the legislature and governor by early December, just before the state begins a new budget cycle.

Districts are also struggling with acquiring zero emission, or electric buses. She says a bill approved by the legislature reduces the reimbursement window for transportation aid from 12 years to eight to accommodate the shorter lifespan of the buses. It awaits the governor’s signature.

“I don't know that we will see a change that no, you don't have to use zero-emission buses, but I think there's a lot of work to be done," Ruffo said. "The timelines that are in place are very challenging to say the least for school districts.”

New York requires all new buses purchased be zero emission by 2027 and replace all fossil fuel buses by 2035. Ruffo says grants may not cover the four-fold higher cost of the new buses, and there are ongoing questions about their practicality.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.