Hyde Park School District Clarifies New Electric Bus Plan
Residents in Hyde Park, New York will soon vote on whether or not the school district should purchase 17 new electric school buses.
A few weeks ago we shared that the Hyde Park School District was proposing to residents within the district that they invest millions to purchase seventeen (17) electric school buses and vehicle chargers.
Electric School Buses in Hyde Park, New York
When we originally shared the new proposition, which was submitted at the Board of Education meeting on September 26th, we stated that the district was asking voters to vote on whether or not the district should be authorized to acquire 17 electric school buses and related vehicle chargers at a maximum cost of $7,985,500.
We explained that part of the almost $8 million price tag would be financed with an expenditure of $2,270,250 from the Capital Reserve Fund and grants from the Environmental Protection Agency and New York School Bus Incentive Program.
Hype Park Superintendent Clarifies Electric School Bus Purchase
Shortly after publishing our article Dr. Pedro Roman, Superintendent at the Hyde Park School District contacted us to clarify exactly how the school district was planning on acquiring the $8 million needed to acquire the electric school buses.
Dr. Roman told us that the district has already secured grants from the Environmental Protection Agency ($3.4 million), the New York School Bus Incentive Program ($2.31 million), competitive grants, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority ($199,036), along with other potential reimbursements to offset the lofty price tag.
How Much Will Buses Cost Taxpayers in Hyde Park?
After all grants are applied the remaining balance (approx. $2.27 million) would be paid from the district's Capital Reserve Fund if approved by voters on November 19th. Dr. Roman also told us that the district is anticipating an additional $322,854 in tax credits and $1.22 million in state aid reimbursement which would be returned to the reserve fund if approved by voters.
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The net cost to the district for the electric school bus purchase if all goes as explained above would be approximately $522,200 according to Dr. Roman.
Check the Mail
Many residents in the district communicated through social media that they had no knowledge this was going to a vote but according to Dr. Roman the district did mail a "comprehensive newsletter to every household in October 2024 detailing the electric bus proposal and the upcoming vote."
Where to Vote in Hyde Park, NY
Qualified voters with the school district will be able to vote on the proposition by paper ballot, absentee ballot, early mail-in ballot, or military ballot on Tuesday, November 19th at the Haviland Middle School gymnasium located on Haviland Road in Hyde Park, NY from 6 a.m. through 8 p.m.