Council pauses Parks vehicle purchases, sends master lease questions to finance committee

The Jackson City Council on June 17 paused a Parks and Recreation vehicle purchase arranged to be included in a master lease and referred the item to the finance committee after extended questioning about budget sources and timing.

Council considered an order accepting a bid for crew cab trucks for Parks and Recreation and a related procurement path that would use the city’s master lease program. Council members and staff debated whether the expenditures were already included in a previously appropriated $3 million “not to exceed” master lease authorization, whether the purchases should be routed through fund 5 or general fund, and how July 1 and a September loan-closing timeline affect procurement deadlines.

Parks Director Dr. Mohammed said departments had opened bids and needed the vehicles; he described operational impacts, saying crews lacked working vehicles and supervisors were using personal or higher-priority vehicles to cover work. Finance staff and the budget manager explained that master-lease closings require timing to secure loan funding and that the July 1 deadline was used to ensure a September loan close. Several council members said they remained “very unread[y]” and requested additional clarity on the appropriations and fund transfers. Councilman Banks pressed that if funds had been appropriated during the budget process they should be used from the intended fund rather than moved between lines without clear explanation.

After extended discussion the council withdrew the motion and referred the item and the related budget transfer (previously placed in committee as item 29) to the finance committee for fuller review; no purchase was authorized at the meeting.