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The meeting is in Dutchess County from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School at 156 S Cross Road in Staatsburg.
Hyde Park Central School District officials said attendees will learn everything about implementing electric buses during the panel discussion.
Representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Leonard Bus Sales will answer questions about operating and maintaining electric buses, while district representatives will discuss the financial aspect.
District officials said this will be a chance for voters to receive clear and accurate information ahead of a Tuesday, Nov. 19 vote on whether to approve an expenditure of $2.27 million from the Capital Reserve Fund.
The amount would be reduced through state aid and credits to a net cost of $522,201. This amount represents an approximate discount of 94 percent on the purchase of 17 new electric buses.
District officials said taxes will not increase as the District uses Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and NYSERDA grants to offset most of the upfront cost of the buses.
This effort is being held to meet the state's zero-emission school bus mandate, which requires school districts to purchase or lease new student transportation vehicles that are zero-emissions by July 2027.
“Electric school buses are a reliable, safer, cleaner, and greener way to transport students to and from school without the harmful air pollutants of traditional buses powered by diesel or gasoline that are associated with chronic health conditions such as asthma, cancer, and cognitive impairment,” Nina Haiman, program manager for NYSERDA’s Clean Transportation team, said.
The vote will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Haviland Middle School, 23 Haviland Road, Hyde Park.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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