Bus Purchase Proposition Facing North Babylon School District Voters

When North Babylon School District residents head to the polls next month to cast their ballots on the proposed school budget, they will also be asked to vote on the purchase of new buses.

Proposition 2 seeks voter approval to lease-purchase five school buses and eight school vans. The total cost of the 13 vehicles is $937,530 payable in five annual installments of $187,506.

“We have some buses that date back to the 1980s that have more than 100,000 miles,” said Salvatore Carambia, assistant superintendent for business for the North Babylon School District. “They’re basically antiques.”

Under state law, the school district is obligated to put up a separate proposition for leasing/purchasing of buses and vans. A recent presentation by Patricia Godek, school superintendent, indicated that the proposition needs at least 60 percent voter approval.

While some school districts work with outside transportation companies to provide busing for students, North Babylon does all its busing in-house and owns all its vehicles. Currently there are about 100 vehicles in its fleet.

Carambia said the older vehicles are removed from service when they are deemed to be unfit for use. This typically includes vehicles that have a high degree of body rot, have engines and transmissions that do not operate properly or are unable to meet current emission standards.

While voters today maybe more leery of approving additional large expenditures such as new bus purchases, Carambia said the school district feels the timing is right since a previous lease-purchase agreement is expiring at the end of the current school year.

“There is really no (additional financial) impact on the home owners,” he said. “More importantly, if the proposition doesn’t pass and we have issues with our other buses, it would leave us short some buses.”