The School Committee on Wednesday did not take a vote on a proposed reduction in school busing services -- effectively putting the decision in the hands of Town Meeting voters.

Faced with increasing maintenance expenses and a potential deficit, School Department officials have proposed reducing the number of buses the district runs -- eliminating the busing of students that it is not by law required to transport.

The district would only transport students who live two miles or more away from school. Currently, it transports students who are one mile away or more. The proposal would also eliminate busing for high school students.

The two elementary schools would have to stagger their start times to accommodate the change. Families of students riding the buses would be charged $75 per year.

The proposal is unpopular among parents and School Committee members alike, as all are worried about traffic and safety issues, as well as the potential for increased truancy.

The School Committee grappled on Wednesday with whether to OK the proposal, which would save the district enough money so that it wouldn't go into deficit, or whether to hold off on a vote due to an anticipated influx of state funds.

Wareham is poised to receive an approximately $125,000 reimbursement from the state for expenses the district incurred from transporting homeless students last year.

However, the money will simply be sent to the town -- not necessarily earmarked for school transportation expenses.

If voters at Town Meeting in October can be convinced to allocate that money to the Transportation Department, the district can continue busing as usual.

The problem, however, is that school starts in September.

"It would obviously be a terrible thing to tell parents in mid-year that [cutting bus services] is what we're going to do," lamented School Committee Chair Geoff Swett.

Superintendent Dr. Barry Rabinovitch saw problems both with a vote and without a vote on the proposal. The changed starting times of the school day and the number of students the district buses would affect families regardless.

"This proposal affects everyone," he said. "There are all kinds of ramifications."

The School Committee ultimately voted to ask Town Meeting to transfer the $125,000 to the Transportation Department. Four members were in favor. Rhonda Veugen was the opposing vote.