Board proposes 60-percent school bus fee increase

CALGARY, Alberta — The Calgary Board of Education has proposed a 60-percent increase in school bus fees starting September 1, 2011, as a way to close an estimated $8.8 million gap between transportation costs and funding.

The move would mean that students who paid $200 this year would be paying $335 next year, CTV Calgary reports. The family maximum would increase from $400 to $670 annually.

Board members told the news source that they will receive $400,000 less from the provincial government and that a 10-percent increase in fuel costs has been factored into the proposal.

Calvin Davies, a member of the board, said they will consider cutting one position in transportation, as well as eliminating bus routes and using larger congregated bus stops to minimize school bus user fees.