Troy CCSD 30-C Board Approves Fully Grant-Funded Electric Buses to Lower Annual Operating Costs

At its official meeting on September 16, 2026, the Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C Board of
Education approved a major fleet modernization strategy to acquire 32 state-of-the-art electric school buses.
The initiative replaces 32 gasoline-powered buses with zero-emission vehicles at no cost to local taxpayers, while capturing approximately $10 million in savings over the next decade.
Through a strategic combination of federal EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Grants ($280,000 per bus) and anticipated ComEd EV Rebates (up to $162,940 per bus), Troy 30-C will capture $13,763,696 in external capital. This external funding covers 100% of the acquisition costs, requiring $0 in net district capital outlay.
To minimize supply chain risk and maximize performance, the district established a diversified dual-vendor
split:
● 16 IC Bus eCE Series (67-passenger) provided by Midwest Transit Equipment
● 16 Blue Bird Vision Electric (67-passenger) provided by Central States Bus Sales
Beyond the initial acquisition, restructuring the district's existing bus lease will reduce annual financing
payments from $1,118,376 to an estimated $353,769—saving $764,607 annually in debt service. Combined
with an 80% reduction in per-mile fleet operating costs (dropping from $1.65/mile for gasoline to $0.36/mile for
electric), the district unlocks $1,091,545 in positive net cash flow in Year 1 alone.
"This transition is a massive win for our students, our staff, and our taxpayers," said Ben Hettel, Executive
Director of Operations at Troy CCSD 30-C. "By capturing federal grants and utility company rebates, we are
modernizing our fleet to ensure peak reliability and vehicle safety without taking a single dollar from local
capital reserves. Lowering our operational overhead and reinvesting those savings back into the district directly
embodies our community motto—when we work together to learn, grow, and achieve, we create long-term
financial stability and a better future for our schools."
This initiative aligns with the district's ongoing commitment to fiscal efficiency as it prepares for its upcoming
no-tax-rate-increase referendum, demonstrating responsible stewardship of public resources by reducing fixed
operating expenses without asking taxpayers for additional revenue.
Path to Full Deployment
● Fall 2026: Finalization of contracts, board approval, and entry into vehicle production.
● May 2027: Installation of EV charging infrastructure across district facilities.
● Summer 2027: Vehicle delivery and hands-on training for drivers and mechanics covering EV driving,
high-voltage safety, charging workflows, and preventive maintenance.
● August 2027: Full deployment for student transportation at the start of the 2027–2028 school year.
For more information regarding Troy CCSD 30-C's operations and financial sustainability initiatives, please visit
www.troy30c.org/futurefocus

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