On the surface it might look like an interesting purchase, but if you can buy a brand new $401,000 electric school bus which ultimately will cost you just over $1,400 , the Greeneville City Board of Education has decided it’s worth it.
City Schools Operations Manager Phillip Graham outlined specifics of a competitive EPA Grant proposal, awarded to Greeneville and written and secured by Director of Transportation Kristen Rollins. The grant covers $345,000 of the $401,410.24 cost of the bus. A similar 71 passenger diesel fueled bus with air conditioning and seat belts would cost around $155,000. Another grant written by Rollins, also approved, was for $15,000 for the cost of seat belts. A federal tax credit of $40,000 after one years use would bring total cost for the purchase to $1410.04
COST 401,410.04
GRANT (-) 345,000.00
TOTAL 56,410.04
SB GRANT (-) 15,000.00
TOTAL 41,410.04
TAX CREDIT (-) 40,000.00
TOTAL 1,410.04
Graham says plans are to use the bus as G-5, which is in the George Clem area, near where the systems electric charging station is located.