New Buses Included in 2013-14 Kings Park School Budget

   The purchase of one new bus and one new van has been included in the 2013-14-school budget to replace aging ones in the Kings Park School District’s fleet.

Residents heading to the polls on May 21 to vote on the adopted budget will notice a separate proposition regarding the purchase of the buses. According to Kings Park District Superintendent, Susan Agruso, voters must give separate authorization to purchase the buses, and says residents should be clear, this is not an additional expense that they are voting on.

“We are required to put up a separate proposition,” said Agruso. “This is not an additional burden and is included in the adopted budget.  

The proposition will presented to voters as noted below:  

Resolved, that the Board of Education is hereby authorized to enter into an installment purchase agreement for the purchase of one (1) bus and one (1) van, the principal, cost of which shall not exceed $170,000 and will be financed over five (5) years. If the 2013-14 budget is approved, the funds for the first year of the lease purchase would be available in that budget and therefore no additional increase in the tax levy would occur with the passage of this proposition.  

Agrsuo wants residents to know that the purchase of the buses is not a separate $170,000 charge.

“We are required, this year, for the first time, to put up a separate proposition vote if we want to purchase buses,” she said. “$37,000 is included in this year’s budget and will be financed over five years”

The Kings Park School District owns their bus fleet and bus drivers are employed by the district, not by an outside agency.

 “We made a commitment to our buses and drivers. We have 60 buses and we are talking about two,” said board trustee, Charlie Leo. “We need them (additional buses) to keep our commitment to the community.”