Lt.
Gov. Bob Peeler's proposal to use lottery money for school buses recognizes the
increasing need to deal with the state's ever-aging bus fleet and the difficulty
in getting funding from other sources. Unless the Legislature has a better idea
- one that it can put into effect - it should endorse the plan.
Lt. Gov. Peeler would use the first six
months of lottery revenue, an estimated $67 million, to buy 1,409 school buses.
That presumes the state can get the same price as North Carolina in a recent
bulk purchase.
South Carolina spends substantially more
for school buses, about $13,000 extra per vehicle. The state Department of
Education hasn't had the resources to buy in bulk, thereby obtaining a lower
price.
Bus costs are also increased by
non-standard specifications. The state's Legislative Audit Council has
repeatedly urged further review of those specifications, saying the department
hasn't sufficiently justified them.
The state Board of Education recently urged
the Legislature to fund the replacement of school buses, as well as their repair
and maintenance. The department has been unable to keep mechanics because it
can't offer competitive wages.
Mr. Peeler points out that the first six
months of lottery profits have yet to be designated. Their use for school buses
could alleviate a serious problem that the Legislature has been unwilling to
address in recent years. The recent bad news on a revenue shortfall suggests
there may not be another source for their purchase in the near-term.
Secretary of State Jim Miles, also a
gubernatorial candidate, says privatizing is the answer.
It is hard to imagine that the Legislature
could agree to such a shift in policy, statewide, in the time frame needed to
deal with an immediate problem.
Currently the option is open to individual
districts. Charleston, for example, has a privatized operation, but the large
majority of the district's bus fleet was purchased by the state, a district
official says.
A Department of Education spokesman says
that the lieutenant governor's idea would "get us on track," adding
that, "The challenge would be staying on track."
The Legislature has to face that challenge
sooner than later, or take responsibility for the continued decline in the
school bus fleet, along with the accompanying safety risks. Mr. Peeler's plan
offers a fiscally painless start, and a responsible use of profits from the
lottery.