School bus fees in the Central Okanagan might be on the rise again [Video]

Riding the school bus in the Central Okanagan may soon come with a hefty fee.

Parents in School District 23 already pay $450 per child for bus rides, and if approved by the school board, that fee could rise between $75 and $150.

While this may be the most significant hike, transportation fees have more than doubled since 2019 when it was 200-a-year per child.

“When we look at inflationary increases, the cost of gas going up, that cost of transportation is going up, so it leaves the school board with this really difficult decision,” said SD 23 Parent Advisory Council president, Nicola Baker.

A report from the school board says the province provides $600,000 in transportation funding, forcing the district to pull from its operating funds to subsidize the transportation budget each year.