(WNY News Now) – Bemus Point – Bemus Point School District seeks community support for an innovative transition to electric buses, promising environmental benefits and financial incentives with no added tax burden.
The Bemus Point School District is advancing its electric bus transition plan in response to New York State’s mandate requiring all schools to adopt electric buses by 2035. This initiative is reinforced by a significant financial boost from the 2023 EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Award, which will help cover the cost of two electric buses.
The district has been awarded $400,000 from the EPA, significantly reducing the cost of the electric buses and unlocking additional incentives. These include a New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) Voucher worth $147,000 per bus, a NYSBIP Rebate of $55,000 per charging station, and a Federal Tax Credit of $40,000 per bus. Further, National Grid’s 90% reimbursement program will support updates to power and transmission lines, ensuring the bus garage is prepared for the electric fleet.
The total projected cost of the project, including two buses, two charging stations, and associated expenses, is $1,040,000. Thanks to the financial incentives, there will be no tax increases for the Bemus Point community. However, to finalize the plan, a Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) is needed to cover the remaining $236,000 of the local share. This amount will be incorporated into the district’s Debt Service, repayable over twelve years, with a Transportation Aid reimbursement of 57.10% and further reduced by a Federal Tax Credit of $80,000.
Community members are invited to vote on this proposal on Thursday, September 5th, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm in the STEAM Room at Maple Grove Junior/Senior High School. For more details and answers to common questions, please visit the District’s website or contact the District Office.
Leave a Reply