Several state Board of Education members said they oppose a proposal to reduce the number of school bus riders and increase fares to help reduce a budget shortfall estimated at $12 million this fiscal year.

“;This plan, in its entirety, is unacceptable,”; said board member Mary Cochran. “;It's heartless and just unacceptable.

“;You expect our kids to walk 2 1/2 miles with no sidewalks, and little babies to walk a mile? ... Nah. Forget it. You don't get my vote.”;

But it is not clear whether there are enough votes to kill the bus service cuts or whether there is a viable alternative to make up for the shortfall.

The board's Budget and Fiscal Services Committee reconvened yesterday after hearing Monday from bus company officials, employees, parents and grandparents of students objecting to the cuts.

Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services Randy Moore outlined the proposal for eliminating routes, increasing fares on July 1 and increasing the distance students must live from school to be eligible to take buses.

The committee members questioned Moore about why the costs of running the school bus service has skyrocketed to $72 million annually.

  Local School Bus Dispute Continues

 

About 30 people protested outside the school board meeting to fight the move to cut school bus routes.

[ Watch ]

 

Roberts Hawaii Vice President Roy Pfund said after the meeting that costs to run a bus company have jumped dramatically. But the department's figures are inflated, he said, and he estimates the costs are closer to $65 million.

Moore plans to meet with bus companies next week to discuss their cost-cutting proposals to stagger school start times and to standardize the school calendar in some areas to eliminate the need for more buses.

School board member John Penebaker questioned why the department has not asked the Legislature for money to cover the full cost of bus operations.

“;How can the department operate beyond the authorized amount of the appropriation? Is it legal?”;

Moore said the department is able to transfer funds to pay for bus services.

“;You're robbing Peter to pay Paul,”; Penebaker said. “;We have been mismanaging the program because we have not asked to increase the appropriations to reflect the actual costs. Pretty soon we're going to run out of pots to rob.”;

Board member Breene Harimoto asked how many companies usually bid on a route, and the answer was one.

The budget committee will meet again to discuss the bus service cuts and could vote to either kill the proposal or advance it to the full board.