LAGUNA BEACH : Board Will Discuss Charging Fee for Student Transportation

The local school board Tuesday will discuss charging an annual fee to transport elementary school students as the district grapples with an $854,000 budget shortfall caused by the county’s bankruptcy.

The district is planning a series of budget meetings to allow community members to speak as school officials seek ways to cut expenses and raise money.

Also in coming weeks, the district will consider a variety of means to raise funds, including selling general obligation bonds and forming maintenance assessment districts.

While no measures will be voted upon immediately, the district will consider Tuesday increasing development fees from $1.58 to $1.72 per square foot to generate money to build school facilities.

This fee applies to home additions and the construction of new houses throughout the district, whether or not the owners have schoolchildren.

While a transportation fee is among the more controversial proposals being considered, school officials say the Laguna Beach Unified School District is the only district in south Orange County that does not charge to transport students to and from school.

The district is pondering an annual fee of between $180 and $225 per child, which officials project would raise between $140,940 and $176,175 to help cover the losses suffered when the county’s investment pool collapsed.

The discussion is expected to begin about 7:15 p.m. and a vote on the transportation fee is scheduled for May 24.

A report from Chief Financial Officer Terry A. Bustillos said the district is expected to spend $437,000 over the next fiscal year to provide home-to-school transportation, only a portion of which would be reimbursed by the state.

According to Bustillos’ report, the Capistrano, Irvine and Tustin unified school districts all charge $180 annually per child, while Saddleback Valley Unified charges $365.

On May 16, the accounting firm Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman will report to the school board on the possibility of raising money in other ways, including bonds and taxes.

These meetings will all be at the school district headquarters at 550 Blumont St.