Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am filing with the Secretary of State House Bill 05-1191, "Concerning expansion of the authority of a school district to impose a transportation fee." I will neither sign nor veto H.B. 05- 1246. Therefore, this bill becomes law at 12:01 A.M. on June 9, 2005. This letter sets forth my reasons for letting this bill become law without my signature.

H.B. 05-1191 allows local Boards of Education to impose and collect a fee for the payment of excess transportation costs through a resolution adopted by the board rather than a special election that is in current statute. The fee for excess transportation costs is currently the only fee collected by local boards of education that requires direct voter approval.

Because local boards of education are elected and therefore accountable to the taxpayers that they represent and the bill also specifies that the fee be charged only to students who receive transportation services, I see no reason to veto H.B. 1191. However, I am still concerned that by eliminating the electoral process this bill erodes direct voter scrutiny of school district policy and finance. Therefore I am allowing this bill to become law without my signature.

Sincerely,