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Finance panel recommends $1 million in free cash to start $4.3 million city vehicle purchase; $3.3 million bond planned for June
Summary
The Springfield City Finance Subcommittee voted to recommend using $1 million in free cash now so staff can order vehicles ahead of a $3.3 million bond authorization expected in June to finish a planned $4.3 million fleet purchase covering 37 vehicles across seven departments.
The Springfield City Finance Subcommittee recommended that the full City Council approve using $1 million in free cash to begin purchasing city vehicles, with a separate bond authorization for about $3.3 million to be presented in June.
The recommendation came after Chris Signoli, a budget staff member, told the committee the full vehicle request for fiscal 2025 totals about $4.3 million and "ends up being 37 vehicles for 7 different departments." Signoli said the $1 million would allow the city to order smaller vehicles now while the city pursues the larger bond later this month.
The proposal is part of a broader effort to create a single, citywide vehicle plan. Signoli said the intent is to consolidate previous staggered, department-specific purchases into one five‑year plan: "Once we get this... we're gonna be putting together a new 5 year plan that will include vehicles from police and fire as well as DPW... to be able to have a comprehensive plan." He told the committee he has met with police and fire and expects to complete the master plan in a few months.
Committee members discussed the city's free cash balance and other near-term needs. Committee members were told the current certified free cash balance is $4.8 million; approving the $1 million request would reduce that balance to about $3.8 million. Finance staff also said a snow-and-ice deficit estimated at "a little bit under $400,000" will require additional free cash later this fiscal year. The finance staff noted that, if necessary, the city could draw on the stabilization reserve and later restore it when free cash is certified.
The committee approved a motion recommending the vehicle free-cash request and related orders to the full council by voice vote. Separate discussion on the pending June bond authorization will follow the formal bond advertisement process.
The vehicle purchase plan includes both large and small units and excludes certain undercover or off-book vehicles that staff said they will remove from the public list before final orders. Signoli described the effort as intended to provide cost clarity and avoid multiple departments bringing separate vehicle requests to council over time.
The full council will see the bond authorization at its June meeting; staff said orders for smaller units can begin once the $1 million is released.
