JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – School bus owners are going to get the relief they hoped for in the face of rising gasoline costs, although the school board rejected the flat $1,000 one-time payment at a budget meeting on Tuesday.

Instead, bus operators will receive an additional 50 cents for each mile the bus travels on its twice-daily route. Board members agreed that since some bus routes cover more mileage than others, a per mile relief bonus would be a more equitable method for reimbursement.

The additional mileage payments will begin in April but be retroactive to March 1. The board will review the relief payments at their May meeting and adjust the payment if needed based on the price of gas at that time. The additional money may come from the school department fund balance and a budget amendment will be prepared to cover the costs and voted upon by the board and the county commission in April.

The original thousand dollar payment for each of the 33 bus routes would have required a transfer of $33,000 from the fund balance. The amount needed to cover the 50 cent/mile relief bonus and the source of that cost will be left to the Finance Department. The school board voted unanimously to approve the mileage plan. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/17/2022-6AM)