A state Board of Education committee voted yesterday against increasing the school bus fare to $1.25 per ride, but the proposal will go on to the full board for a vote later this month.

“;I can't in good conscience vote for another increase when we just raised the fare this month,”; said board member Donna Ikeda.

Four other members of the committee on administrative services also gave a thumbs-down to the proposal from the Department of Education, citing the burden on parents who saw the fare rise to 75 cents on Jan. 1 and the school lunch cost climb to $2.20 from $1.25.

The department proposed the increase in parents' share of the heavily subsidized transportation as it struggles with budget deficits. School bus contracts cost the department $68 million in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Student fares collected were only $2 million, said Randy Moore, deputy superintendent for school facilities and support services.

Moore told the committee that there are 36,000 regular student riders. Forty percent qualify for free rides, including special-needs students and youngsters eligible for free school meals.

The fare increase, which would take effect July 1, would bring in an additional $3 million “;assuming ridership hasn't declined because of the last increase,”; Moore said.

In the lone dissenting vote, Breene Harimoto said, “;Our budget continues to decrease. We can't continue to provide all these services at a nominal cost.

“;I would prefer a good plan”; from the department, Harimoto said. “;I'm not comfortable saying, 'Let's wait for the (Legislature) to save us.'”;

Lee Gomes of the Hawaii School Bus Association said the organization has gathered 20,000 signatures from parents and community members “;who don't want to see the school bus program get cut to the point of almost not existing.”;

There are 12 bus companies under contract to serve 805 school routes throughout the state, said Gomes, whose family runs Gomes School Bus Service.

“;Many of our employees would suffer termination due to the proposed aggressive elimination of routes,”; Gomes said.

That in turn would impact the state budget in unemployment, welfare, housing and medical assistance costs, he said.

The Jan. 1 increase, approved by the board in November, took the fare that had been in effect since 2004 to 75 cents from 35 cents for a one-way ride and increased the annual pass to $225 from $119.70.