Budget woes may get in way of new buses for U-46

Elgin Area School District U-46 may pull back on spending $3 million to replace old school buses this year because of budget problems.

A total of 43 buses are in need of replacement - 21 of the big 68-passenger buses; 16 of the 29-passenger buses and six wheelchair accessible special education buses.

According to the suggested bid by South Holland-based Midwest Transit Equipment, the large buses will cost about $76,000 apiece.

The 29-passenger vehicles will cost about $77,000 apiece and the wheelchair buses will cost $89,000 each.

All new buses will run on diesel.

Of the four bids for the job, Midwest Transit Equipment, the second lowest bidder, was selected because the lowest bidder did not meet specifications.

U-46 has spent between $2.4 million and $3.2 million each year on buses since 2004.

Finding itself millions in the red at the end of last fiscal year, the district is heading into a no frills 2009-10 budget year. The school board heard a proposed $434 million spending plan Monday night - a $13 million decrease from what was spent last year.

The board is set to approve a budget Sept. 28. An amended budget likely will be presented when officials have a better idea on anticipated state and local revenues and stimulus money, spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Superintendent Jose Torres advised the board Monday to go ahead and discuss the bid, but delay the vote until the district has a better handle on the budget.

The large buses being replaced are 1998 or 1999 models that have between 92,000 and 136,000 miles on them.

The smaller buses are either 2001 or 2002 models with between 92,000 and 159,000 miles.

Ideally, the district's vehicle replacement plan stipulates, large buses in operation should have less than 175,000 miles and smaller buses should have less than 160,000 miles.

There are a total of 371 buses in the district's fleet.