School district transportation costs are increasing. The Onteora district’s are up eleven percent next year. A request for proposals resulted in only one bid.
It could have been worse. Without the impending closure of Phoenicia Elementary, the increase would have been 26 percent.
“We don’t have a lot of transportation departments in our area,” assistant superintendent Monica LaClair said at the February 20 school-board meeting. “We are very rural. And for smaller companies, it’s hard for them to ramp up to the number of buses and the number of staffing that we need to transport all of our kids over almost 300 square miles.”
First Student was the only company submitting a bid.
The bid is submitted by type of equipment and in five- or six-hour daily rate packages, LaClair explained. “For example, a 66-passenger bus has a five-hour package. So that means this is a bus and a driver that needs to be out for five hours.” Currently, Onteora is paying $451.87 for that one run. Next year, it’ll be paying $579.93.
Five years ago, when First Student bid for the contract that they’re currently running, the landscape was very different. After Covid and high inflation, the companies had to start paying their drivers a lot more.
Phoenicia’s closure will result in the elimination of six bus runs.
“Simply by shifting the students from Phoenicia to Bennett, we’ve reduced our total costs for transportation by half a million dollars,” LaClair said.
The five-year contract will cost $22.6 million. The district is reviewing the potential for reductions.
Field trips and sports will cost $812,762 for five years and summer school $604,173 over five years.
Tax exemptions
The Onteora School Board increased the income limit for the 50-percent tax exemption available to senior citizens and low-income disabled people from $35,000 to $42,000. The reduction is in the school property-tax assessment for the 2024-25 school year.
A 20-percent exemption is available for those earning at least $45,800 but under $46,699. A ten-percent exemption is for those earning at least $47,600 but under $48,499, and a five-percent exemption for those earning at least $48,500 but under $49,399.
The senior exemption is in addition to the Enhanced STAR program.
To be eligible, applicants must have owned the property for at least a year months prior to the date of filing. The property must be used for residential purposes and must be the legal residence of the owners.
All owners must be either disabled or 65 or older. Taxpayers must apply on or before March 1. Forms are available at www.onteora.k12.ny.us/exemptions.
For more information, contact Monica LaClaire at 845-657-8499.
Join the family! 
