School Year 2009-2010 School Bus Purchase Requests

ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: 34
POLICY CODE: EEAEB

TO:                All Superintendents and Transportation Managers
FROM:           Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE:            December 5, 2008
RE:                School Year 2009-2010 School Bus Purchase Requests

PLEASE FORWARD TO BUSINESS MANAGERS AND TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORS

The annual applications for approval of school bus purchases are due no later than December 12, 2008. Every School Administrative Unit planning to purchase or lease/lease-purchase a school bus in FY ‘10 must submit a completed Request for Approval for School Bus Purchase (EF-T-17) on line, to the Department of Education, Transportation Specialist, in order to be considered for subsidy payments. The 2009-2010 request form and filing instructions can be found on the Department of Education’s website, under “Forms”, in the Pupil Transportation section at http://www.maine.gov/education/forms/transportation.htm . The form identification number is EF-T-17.

Lease and lease-purchase approvals will be considered for state subsidy as a capital expense following the same process used for cash and note purchases, and will be subject to specific funding limitations as described in Title 20-A M.R.S.A. §5401(15)(C). The approval level for cash, note, and lease purchases will be determined by the Commissioner based on funds available and on the state bid price for each applicable type and capacity of school bus listed. Additional information regarding the State of Maine School Bus Purchasing Program is available at the following web address: http://www.maine.gov/education/const/trans.htm .

Reminder: please submit a completed School Bus Purchase Report, EF-T-20, for each new school bus purchased or leased. Subsidy for school bus purchases or lease purchases will not be paid if a completed report has not been filed. Blank copies of this report are also available from the Department Internet address for “Forms”, listed above.

If you have any questions, please contact Rick Soules at 207-624-6884 or via email at richard.j.soules@maine.gov .