Newport-Mesa school district bus passes will double in cost, to $360 a year

Newport-Mesa Unified School District bus passes for the 2015-16 school year will double in cost starting Sept. 21.

The district’s transportation department proposed the increase to the school board as a means of keeping the buses available to students, and trustees approved it Aug. 25.

“Our budget has stayed around the same size as it was 10 years ago, but the money we get from the state has decreased, certainly in transportation,” said the department’s director, Pete Meslin. “It came down to either increasing fees or cutting transportation.”

He said the price of a bus pass has not gone up in 20 years.

Bus passes for one semester will increase from $95 to $190. Annual fees will rise from $180 to $360.

“We understand that it’s a significant increase, but in the best interest of the students, it was better than some of the other choices,” school board President Martha Fluor said. “It’s an opportunity to not take away money from student programs or supplies.”

In June, Meslin presented a number of options that could prevent transportation services from encroaching on the district’s general fund, including reducing the number of stops per bus and limiting the areas of bus service.

While Meslin and the board discussed the options throughout the summer, both parties concluded that increasing the fees would be the easiest to implement.

Passes are available for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Families hoping to receive a reduced rate on a bus fare may submit a supplemental form that indicates the applicant’s household size. They should also provide copies of tax returns, pay stubs or even unemployment or disability documentation, said

Tracey Nelson, administrative assistant in the transportation department.

Passes will include the student’s photograph and name of their bus stop.

According to Nelson, the district transports 4,600 to 5,000 students each day.