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Sheriff's office seeks $94,000 to cover engine repairs; staff expects GM recall reimbursement later
Summary
The sheriff's office asked the county commission to approve a $94,000 budget increase to cover engine replacements in patrol Tahoes after multiple engine failures; staff said GM is under recall and some costs will be reimbursed but likely after October.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office asked commissioners for a $94,000 increase to its vehicle repair budget after a series of engine failures in patrol SUVs, and staff said the county expects to recover some costs through a GM recall and class-action activity.
"We have a request for a $94,000 increase out of budget for repairs to our vehicles," Chief Murphy told the commission, describing nine to 19 engine failures that required total engine replacements costing as much as $12,000 each. He said some of the replacements were covered under warranty.
Chief Murphy said the affected vehicles are model years from 2020 into 2024 and that the manufacturer has issued a recall covering some models. "The good news is this money will be reimbursed," he said, but staff told commissioners reimbursement is more likely after October.
Supervisors reported that nine failures absorbed county costs; those replacements required engines to be towed from the field and rebuilt or replaced. The sheriff's office said the vehicles experience heavy idle time and field use that may have contributed to failures.
Commissioners asked whether reimbursement would occur within the current budget year; staff said reimbursement was "more likely after October." The commission did not take a vote on the request and placed the matter on a future agenda for formal consideration.
No formal legal action or final budget amendment was adopted during the meeting. County staff said they will pursue reimbursement through the manufacturer's recall process and related class-action procedures and will return to the commission with a formal budget amendment request.
