Highway department asks for $125,000 seed and reserve options as board weighs dump truck/backhoe priorities

Highway leadership presented capital requests for heavy equipment during Elmsford’s budget work session, seeking funding for a backhoe and a dump truck that together were described as roughly $295,000. The tentative budget currently includes $125,000 toward these purchases, leaving a funding gap that the board discussed closing through reserve funds, phased purchases, or by prioritizing one vehicle.

Brian (highway) explained that older trucks were being used for work outside their design and that the requested equipment would be more durable for excavation and municipal work. “The problem is we're using them for excavation... they're just not built for some of the work that we do,” he said when describing why a new dump truck is needed.

The board discussed options including placing money in an equipment reserve fund to smooth large purchases over fiscal years, pursuing used equipment or grants, and deciding between the dump truck and the backhoe based on immediate operational needs. Snow‑removal expense lessons from the recent winter also informed urgency: contractual snow removal was increased in the tentative budget and an overtime contingency of $20,000 was proposed to avoid emergency shortfalls.

Next steps: staff will provide a prioritized capital plan, potential reserve transfers, and costed options (new vs used, grants) for the board’s later vote.