Rushed Request to Save City $20,000 on Cop Cars

A last-minute request to buy four new police cars will actually save the city about $20,000 in the end.

Ferndale City Council members unanimously approved Police Chief Tim Collins' plan to order the vehicles during its meeting Monday night.

It was rushed because the next day, Ford would discontinue the production of the police vehicle Ferndale currently uses, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI), and would switch to a newer model that Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins said might cost $5,000-$6,000 more each.

Purchasing the vehicles on March 1, before the current models are discontinued, would allow the department to get two more years out of the "postproduction" equipment – the computer and radio mounts, push bumpers, a front and back seat divider shield, among other items.

"One of the advantage of using the same model and make of vehicle is that all of the items that are postproduction that we own, that we put into these vehicles are very costly," Collins said. "We don't buy that every time we buy a new car … we reuse them." A new make and model would require the department to replace these components to fit the new vehicles. "As a cost-saving measure if we could get Crown Victorias one last time, we will not, at least this year, have to buy those new interior parts," Collins said.

The move will also delay spending on a more expensive vehicle.

The plan involves buying the vehicles and holding them until the fiscal year 2012 so the city does not incur charges until that fiscal year. Ed Schmid Ford will purchase the cars because, Collins said, the dealership can beat the state bid of $21,455 for each vehicle, offering the department a lower cost.

Going forward, the department wants to replace four vehicles every year instead of eight, which is the whole fleet, every two years. Collins said police vehicles are used 24 hours a day and by the end of two years will have 70-95,000 miles on them.

“It will not save dollars that way, but it will, according to the finance director (Janyemarie Hubanks), even the flow of expenditures," Collins said, allowing for more streamlined bookkeeping.

Mayor Pro Tem Kate Baker asked Collins if the number of police officers is cut would the department still need an eight-vehicle fleet. Collins said even if there were layoffs, each car would still be utilized. "We would need these vehicles, one way or the other, because those eight are slated to be replaced next year," Collins said.

Additionally, money for the police vehicles come from an allocated fund already put in place to purchase them, not from the general fund. 

"The money is already put in our budget. Allocated money to bring in new vehicles. The chief has proposed a potential $20,000 in savings by purchasing these vehicles," Councilwoman Melanie Piana said.