ARLINGTON — The school district is asking voters to reconsider a levy they turned down two months ago that would replace half of the district’s school buses.
The $3 million proposal would be spread over two years to replace 26 buses. The levy seeks 43 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or about $108 per year on a $250,000 home, in 2016. That amount would drop to 41 cents — $103 on a $250,000 home — in 2017.
When the levy initially ran in November, the district asked for 49 cents per $1,000 value, or $123 per year on a $250,000 home. The measure failed, falling about 200 votes short out of 9,858 total ballots.
The new measure will be on the ballot Feb. 10.
Much of the school district’s bus fleet is past its prime, officials say. One is 28 years old, and about half of the fleet is at least 13 years old, which means those buses have depreciated in value too much for the state to provide matching dollars to replace them.
The levy is a one-time request, district spokeswoman Andrea Conley said. Moving forward, Arlington could qualify for those state dollars and save up to buy buses without future levies.
About 2,400 of Arlington’s 5,400 students take the bus, Conley said. Newer buses are more reliable and have improved safety features, such as sturdier frames and better traction.
The district estimates that its 53 buses rack up a total of 4,800 miles traveled each day. Occasionally, buses break down, meaning students have to wait for another ride. A second bus is sent on an impromptu detour to pick them up and the stalled bus gets towed to a repair shop. During September and October, the first two months of the current school year, buses broke down seven separate times.
In the 2013-14 fiscal year, the district spent $90,400 on parts for bus repairs. That total doesn’t include labor because the district has its own mechanics. It also does not include new tires for buses, which is part of their routine maintenance.
Though the levy failed in November, supporters hope more information and visibility could change the results next month.
“The need is so great, and it’s still there,” Conley said. “We were pretty close to passing it last time — 48 percent — and we’re confident we’re doing everything we can to get the word out this time.”
Meanwhile, the Citizens Committee for Arlington Schools, a group of volunteers, are working to promote the levy through sign waving, presentations and social media, committee president Jesica Stickles said. The battle isn’t just getting people to vote yes, she said, it’s getting them to vote at all.
Stickles has three kids in the school district, and they all ride the bus. Even well-maintained older buses don’t have the safety features that new buses have, such as more emergency exits, security cameras and better traction.
For more information, people can go to the district’s website at www.asd.wednet.edu or email Conley at aconley@asd.wednet.edu.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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