Pittsburg budget workshop: Officials weigh delaying police cruiser purchase as trade-in values fall

Chair opened the budget workshop and directed department heads to start the budget review, beginning with questions about police cruisers and trade-in values. Members discussed recent quotes for outfitting a cruiser and whether to hold vehicles longer to improve trade-in returns.

One member argued for running cruisers five years to avoid a “hard hit” on capital reserves, noting typical trade-in recoveries decline after five to seven years. A different member urged shopping other dealerships to drive competition and “sharpen his pencils,” saying local dealers had grown “comfortable” and might not be offering the best prices.

Board members repeatedly referenced Kelley Blue Book estimates in the discussion, citing ranges for “fair” values and using those figures to frame acceptable trade-in targets. The group asked staff to contact local dealers (identified in discussion as Don and Winston Royce) and to report back the next day with updated offers.

The board also discussed whether revenue from an intermunicipal policing contract with Clarksville could be earmarked to help fund cruiser replacements. Staff explained that contract reimbursements currently flow into the general fund and would reduce the town’s tax burden on paper; members asked accountants whether any portion could be formally placed in a cruiser-specific fund.

Chair asked for an updated capital-reserve report from the town’s finance contact (David Jones) so members could see current balances and timing for the replacement cycle. The board agreed they could delay a purchase by a year if better trade-in terms are found, but emphasized the need to codify a replacement cycle for planning.

Next steps: staff will contact dealers to seek improved trade-in terms, provide documentation of quotes for budget books, and deliver an updated capital-reserve report to the board for the next meeting.