Bridgewater Pays 114% More In Hazardous School Busing Costs, Officials 'Appalled'

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Township officials are "appalled" after receiving a bill for hazardous busing from the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education(BOE) that increased 114 percent over last year.

The Township Council approved a resolution on Jan. 19 to pay the BOE $523,808 for its Hazardous Busing program - which provides transportation for safety to students in the township who must walk to and from school along hazardous routes.

However, the approval did not come before Council members aired their grievances over the large cost increase.

"I was personally appalled to see it more than double," said Councilman Howard Norgalis.

Councilman Timothy Ring said the township went into an agreement with the BOE voluntarily to help cover the hazardous busing costs. But he said the agreement "is in some ways, I would relate to, as writing a blank check."

In 2020-21, the township committed to providing funding for 2 years without knowing what that funding amount would be.

In 2020-21, the cost was $245,220. That cost spiked to $523,808 in 2021-22.

"I don’t like it but we are obligated to pay it," said Ring. "For the Township to continue to contribute to the future of hazardous busing, I think we need to sit down and have a dialogue with the school district around that because I don't think we can continue to approve a blank check every 2 years."

When asked what was the cause of the increase or for comment, the BOE told Patch on Friday, "the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District will provide a statement on the hazardous bus issue next week. Thank you."

A new statement has not been provided as of Tuesday morning.

In the past, the township has contributed more than $4 million to the BOE in support of hazardous busing or an average of around $250,000 per year, said Norgalis.

Norglais said he would be "willing to vote in support of this but in the words of [Council President] Michael Kirsch 'Hold my nose and vote'."

"But it will be a tough day when I would ever agree to any sort of relationship with the BOE voluntarily," said Norgalis.

Norglais noted that before approving the bill the township had its police and administration officials check all of the numbers on the bill — who confirmed they are correct.

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