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Treasure County commissioners debate replacing graders vs. leasing amid tight budgets
Summary
Commissioners, road staff and the county clerk discussed options to replace aging graders — buying new, leasing or buying used — and the budget trade-offs the county faces after a bridge change order reduced available materials and resale revenue.
Treasure County commissioners discussed whether to buy new road graders, lease equipment, or buy used machines during a lengthy conversation about maintenance costs, hours of use and trade-in value. The debate centered on whether the county can afford a new machine (and a possible multi‑year payment) or should lease to keep equipment current and get guaranteed service and replacement while avoiding large repair bills. Road staff said their current machines are frequently in the shop and parts are increasingly unavailable for older Volvo and Case units. Commissioners and staff reviewed leasing quotes and staff estimates. One sales scenario presented an annual lease cost in the mid‑tens of thousands of dollars; commissioners noted leasing spreads replacement costs but cautioned that repeated lease payments can exceed purchase costs over time. Road staff said a recent two‑month average of hours suggested many machines are used less than 500 hours a year, which affects whether full‑time leasing or short‑term rentals make financial sense. They also discussed renting heavy equipment for peak periods rather than maintaining an extra machine year‑round. The group discussed options to recover budget capacity — selling surplus trailers and pickups, pursuing grants, and marketing used equipment. Commissioners noted that a recent Pease Bottom bridge change order reduced the county’s material credit and therefore the informal margin that might have funded equipment purchases, increasing pressure to find less costly options. No final decision was made; commissioners asked staff to collect firm bids/lease quotes, estimate trade‑in values for the Volvo and other units, and return with a narrower set of options tied to specific budget lines.
Ending — Next steps: staff will obtain firm lease and purchase quotes, estimate resale/trade‑in, and provide a budget impact analysis at a future meeting so commissioners can choose whether to lease, buy new, or buy used.
