August 19, 2008: Proposition 1B School Bus Replacement
By David Walrath
The Air Resources Board (ARB) has released the final guidelines for the Proposition 1B school bus replacement funds. The following are excerpts from the guidelines. For the complete guidelines, please visit http://www.arb.ca.gov/bonds/schoolbus/schoolbus.htm and contact your local air district.
Funding Allocations
SB 88 directs the ARB to allocate Proposition 1B funds by first setting aside funds to replace the remaining 1976 and older model year school buses in California. Remaining funds are to be allocated to air districts based on each district’s share of the 1977 through 1986 model year school bus population.
Eligible Applicants and Project Types
For school bus replacements, not more than $140,000 will be provided by State Program funds, with additional funding not to exceed 10 percent of the new bus purchase grant award for alternative fuel infrastructure, if required. For school bus retrofits, the funding cap is $20,000 per retrofit.
Applying for Funds
School districts will be contacted by their local air districts or ARB/California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) about funding opportunities. However, it would be in the best interest of the school district to ensure their contact information is up-to-date and understand the timelines of their local implementing agency. School districts that wish to replace pre-1987 model year buses or wish to retrofit buses should look for proposal requests from their implementing agency later this year.
Applications must be obtained from, and submitted to, the implementing agency.
School Bus Replacements
All school buses eligible for replacement must be replaced with 2007 model year or newer buses equipped with specified engines.
School districts will be required to provide $25,000 in match funding when replacing eligible 1977-1986 (no match for pre-1977) model year school buses. Air districts may use their local funds to assist school districts with the match funding requirement. Every air district that generates funds through AB 923 (the $2.00 portion of motor vehicle registration surcharge fees) can reasonably provide the match funding for buses eligible for replacement in their respective regions. All school buses replaced under the program must be dismantled within 60 days of receipt of the new, replacement bus.
