Editor's Note: Mikulin Interview

Assemblyman John Mikulin (R,C-Bethpage) was recently interviewed by WSTM/WTVH Syracuse to discuss his EV bus mandate opt-out bill for New York schools. Specifically, it would allow schools to make the final decisions on purchasing these new electric vehicles rather than being forced by a state mandate.

These unfunded mandates are generally passed off to taxpayers in the form of districts raising school taxes, who will foot the bill for this unnecessary upgrade. Each of the new buses costs between $300,000 and $450,000, 4 times more than traditional diesel buses.

Mikulin stressed that while schools should always be open to new technology, Albany should not force costly mandates on districts without fully considering the financial burden they place on local communities.

Considering the hefty upfront price tag for electric buses, which does not include the charging infrastructure or rapidly rising electric prices, the EV bus mandate is far more expensive than it initially appears. This makes an opt-out necessary so local leaders can make responsible budget choices rather than being forced to follow costly state mandates.