The Jefferson City Council is taking a close look at police vehicles as it continues working on the 2016 budget.
As it stands right now, the draft budget includes the purchase of two new unmarked police vehicles at a cost of $26,921 each to replace 10-year-old vehicles showing signs of rust and with mechanical issues. According to pink sheet requests, the two existing vehicles have 101,349 miles and 72,450 miles.
It also includes leasing six new standard police vehicles at a cost of $27,964 each to replace two 2012 vehicles with more than 100,000 miles on each, three 2009 vehicles with more than 80,000 miles on each, and one 2010 vehicle with more than 95,000 miles on it.
At the Budget Committee meeting Thursday, Police Chief Roger Schroeder said after police vehicles hit 100,000 miles, the maintenance costs begin to accumulate, which is why the standard is to replace vehicles at that point, if possible.
"These are roughly driven vehicles," Schroeder said. "Those vehicles are worn at a different rate than someone who doesn't have an emergency type of a job."
Schroeder said the 100,000-mile standard is from the Central Maintenance Division, which handles maintenance for city vehicles. He said the number could be different, adding the Missouri Highway Patrol had vehicles limited to 60,000 miles, though he noted he was unsure if that was still the patrol's policy.
When asked about whether it would be better to try and extend the life of a vehicle for another year to help afford more vehicles in the long-run, Schroeder said the issue is the officers themselves.
"I think it should be put in the context of (officers') lives. It is their office," Schroeder said. "It has to be a reliable vehicle. ... They are tasked with getting to a scene where lives are in jeopardy as quickly as possible."
Though no motions were made Thursday to change anything in the draft budget, 2nd Ward Councilman Rick Mihalevich said he still has concerns with the city's need to replace vehicles and the sheer amount of capital equipment needs ahead. He also reiterated concerns with the plan to lease several vehicles instead of purchasing them, though he noted he may "get over that before the budget proceedings are over with."
The Budget Committee will meet again at 6 p.m. Monday following an Annexation Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. The full draft budget is available at jeffersoncitymo.gov/government/budget.php.