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Smithfield council approves $238,600 appropriation to buy emergency response van
Summary
The Smithfield Town Council voted to appropriate $238,600 from unappropriated fund balance to buy a new Emergency Response Team van, a purchase officials said will avoid roughly $50,000 in financing costs and is available immediately through a state contract.
The Smithfield Town Council on July 1 adopted a resolution to appropriate $238,600 from the general fund unappropriated balance to the police department operating budget to buy a replacement Emergency Response Team (ERT) vehicle.
Town Manager Michael Stallings told council members the department had planned to replace the van through the town's enterprise lease program but that budget savings from unfilled positions and other underruns gave the town enough cash to pay for the vehicle outright. "We had sufficient cash that was saved in the police department budget over this last fiscal year through positions that weren't filled and other savings to actually pay cash for the vehicle, and this will in turn save us about $50,000 in interest payments," Stallings said.
The vehicle is being purchased through an existing state contract and, Stallings said, is currently available at a dealer in Northern Virginia for quick delivery. "We would be buying this through an existing state contract...so we would actually be able to take delivery pretty quickly," he said.
Council members who spoke in favor cited safety and financial prudence. Councilman Bowman, describing his experience as a former police chief and state tactical response team member, said the risks for officers during vehicle exit make a properly equipped and designed vehicle necessary and noted an estimated service life of up to 15 years based on the specifications he reviewed. "I believe it's a very, very valid expense for the protection of the men and women that protect us and I would urge council to support this resolution," Bowman said.
Councilman Brooks said buying a new, properly specified unit and avoiding long-term financing "seems like the prudent thing to do" and indicated support for paying cash rather than retrofitting the existing van.
The council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
Council action on the appropriation moves procurement forward under the town's purchasing practice using the state contract; town staff said no additional financing approvals are required.
