California suspends lower emission school bus program because of budget crisis
In 2006, California passed proposition 1B that authorized the state to sell $20 billion in bonds to fund a variety of transportation projects. One of those projects was helping to pay for lower emission school buses. Unfortunately, the lack of resolution to the current budget crisis in California means that the treasurer is unable to sell any bonds. No bond sales means no cash for the program. As a result, the California Air Resources Board - which is responsible for doling out the money to school districts to pay for those lower emissions buses - has sent out a notice that no further money will be available until the situation is resolved. Districts that had been hoping to get hybrid and other cleaner buses will have to either pay on their own or delay those purchases, something that will hurt companies developing those vehicles as well the air quality where kids are getting picked up. Just another example of how efficiency and environmental concerns will have to take a back seat to financial realities for the foreseeable future.
[Source: California Air Resources Board]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 7:04PM (1/09/2009)
Sorry kids, but I'm glad to hear we aren't issuing bonds right now. The debt service for the state is ridiculous already. Bonds aren't free money, people seem to forget that.
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noz 3:17AM (1/10/2009)
Neither is people's health...goes to show where our true priorities lie.
But then...since when do people really care about kids. Let's be honest.
jharlan 11:23AM (1/10/2009)
There are a million worthy causes that need funding from the taxpayers, but all of a sudden there are going to be less taxpayers making a taxable income. Has reality really finally set in? I don't know, man.
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Dave 10:21AM (1/10/2009)
How about buying fewer buses and making the ones you have last longer. Politicians probably have ties to the bus sales companies. That's how it works in Pennsylvania!
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Ed Harris 10:48AM (7/22/2009)
First of all they need to remove the deadlines for compliance on school buses and just make sure all the new buses have the required traps and emission controls. Old buses are not designed for the emissions equipment especially the non-computer ones and would cause more harm for passengers and unneeded expense for the Distric because of plugging up in traffic overheating and the expense of servicing when the vehicle won't perform with it anyway. California school buses are already way too expensive because of the seat belt requirement which lowers capacity of passengers so you would need more buses to handle the numbers, then you add all the emission controls and a $22k trap and there is no way our districts can afford this with out Grants that have just been shut OFF!
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