MISSION VIEJO : School Bus Fees Lowered for Some

Saddleback Valley Unified School District trustees made it cheaper Wednesday for parents with two or more children riding the bus to school.

Trustees voted unanimously to approve the new bus fee schedule.

The change will not affect families with one child who rides the bus, but families with two or more children will save from $230 to $412.50 per year in comparison to the old fees.

Under the old fee schedule, a family with two children who rode the bus would pay $730.

Now, they will pay $500, which is the most any family will be charged.

A family with three or more children riding the bus was charged $912.50 under the previous fee schedule.

Families with one child riding the bus still will be charged $365 a year under the adopted change.

The charge for a second child is $135, while a third child or more are free.

The district was able to offer the bus-fee reductions after saving money by contracting with a new transportation company.

Trustee Frank L. Ury said he wanted parents with children who ride the bus to receive a bigger break because of the money the district saved by switching bus companies.

“I think it is a great half-step,” Ury said, adding that about 200 families would benefit.

But other trustees said they wanted to take a more conservative approach in the event the district’s budget is hard hit later by cuts.

Trustee Marcia Birch said she hoped the new fees would remain in place at least three years.