| 3.__Transportation costs.__For fiscal year 2005-06, the |
commissioner, using information provided by a statewide education |
policy research institute, shall establish a per-pupil |
transportation cost for each school administrative unit based on |
an analysis of the most recent year's reported transportation |
expenditures and a predicted per-pupil transportation cost based |
on the number of resident pupils, the number of miles of Class 1 |
to Class 5 roads in the school administrative unit and any |
approved adjustments. In fiscal year 2005-06 the established per- |
pupil transportation cost for each school administrative unit is |
the most recent year's reported transportation expenditures or |
predicted per-pupil transportation cost, plus 10%, whichever is |
lower. Beginning in fiscal year 2006-07, and for each subsequent |
fiscal year, the per-pupil transportation costs for each school |
administrative unit are its established costs for the most recent |
year adjusted by the Consumer Price Index or other comparable |
index. For fiscal years 2005-06 and 2006-07, in no case may the |
per-pupil transportation costs for a school administrative unit |
be less than 75% of the established costs for the most recent |
fiscal year.__Every 3 years, the commissioner, using information |
provided by a statewide education policy research institute, |
shall examine and may adjust reported transportation expenditures |
and predicted transportation costs. The commissioner shall |