Commissioners and the sheriff discussed seven sheriff's office vehicles identified for replacement after repeated, costly repairs and heavy mileage.

Why it matters: Commissioners said repair costs (including a $46,000 transmission cited as an example) and operational failures are reducing field effectiveness and argued capital purchases should be prioritized when possible. Commissioner Matthews said the county should seek to use SP/SB 22 funds for capital equipment rather than salaries: "That should not be used to pay salaries. That should be used to invest in capital equipment for the sheriff's office."

Court members reviewed the procurement and budget process. The sheriff said several units are repeatedly repaired and that priorities can shift depending on breakdowns: "When the money's found to get a vehicle, we'll give you one. Because it may not be the same vehicle today that we prioritize it." Commissioners asked for an inventory and prioritized list; the sheriff provided unit numbers that most commonly require work (Unit 2, Unit 21 and Unit 24 were named as examples).

Funding and timing remain unresolved. The court directed county finance and the auditor's office to reconcile recent budget amendments, the tax note and the status of SB22 funds so commissioners can see what is available. Commissioners discussed borrowing, using existing capital reserves, or applying SP/SB 22 dollars; no final procurement directive was issued.

Ending: Court asked staff to provide an inventory, prior repair history, and a reconciliation of SB22 and capital accounts so the court can consider vehicle purchases at a later session.