Council weighs take‑home vehicles, fleet replacements and fuel timing as budget lines shift

Councilors spent significant time assessing the proposed take‑home vehicle program and related fleet replacement timing. Director Roy said removing the take‑home program would reduce the general-fund impact by about $472,750 but cautioned that removal of the vehicle request means departments would receive no replacements unless the council restores replacement funding.

Staff said the vehicle replacement request removed from the budget totaled roughly $665,504 for 14 vehicles (four more than historically requested). Roy explained the longer-term fleet replacement plan called for 65 new vehicles (bonded) in prior planning, and that altering the schedule would change operating costs and LCIP contributions. She committed to providing a detailed breakout showing the operating reductions (fuel, insurance, repairs) and what replacement options would cost if the council wanted some vehicles restored to the FY27 plan.

Councilors also questioned fuel procurement timing. Staff said they delayed going out to bid for fuel to avoid an estimated $300,000 increase and will monitor market conditions and remaining gallons to optimize timing; staff noted cooperative bidding through Manpower Options leverages larger pooled volumes for better rates.

Staff promised to email the vehicle-by-vehicle costs, the estimate for fuel savings (gasoline line cited in discussion: ~$297,500), repair line ($55,250) and auto-insurance amount (~$120,000) so councillors can weigh operating savings against capital and LCIP trade-offs. No formal decision was made at the workshop.