PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Several local school districts made big decisions about how kids will get to school going forward.

News10NBC has been following this story for months now — should local districts buy electric school buses ahead of the state mandate?

New10NBC stopped by two of the biggest school districts voting on the electric school bus purchase — Pittsford and Hilton. The districts are aiming to join others like Gates-Chili that have already implemented electric buses into their fleet.

Both Hilton and Pittsford are each looking to purchase an electric school bus ahead of the 2035 mandate. However, as News10NBC has reported, a five-year delay to that mandate is poised to pass the state budget.

This comes as there are major concerns about the cost, infrastructure and reliability of electric school buses.

Hilton School District neighbors voted against the new electric bus purchase Tuesday night.

“The total cost for electric buses are not being taken into account. The facilities that have to be built, and, the cost of the electric buses, I don’t think is realistic,” said Douglas Skeet, who voted against the purchase.

“I mean, it’s their preference. You know, I just feel like eventually it’s going to have to happen no matter what. And right now, while it’s not costing us taxpayers locally, anything,” Mendez said.

Hilton voters did approve the purchase of 14 diesel-powered school buses. It’s being paid for with a grant from the state, meaning it would not affect local taxes.

Meanwhile, Pittsford voters approved the purchase of two electric buses. Here’s what a voter told News10NBC.

“Maybe it’ll help us with our fuel bills. God only knows, when fuel prices will be going down again. It’s all dependent on the Straits of Hormuz being opened,” the voter said.

Dansville shut down the electric bus purchases but passed the purchase of traditional fuel buses.

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