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Corrections outlines vehicle-replacement and heavy-equipment requests to address aging fleet and retention
Summary
The department described multiple decision packages (DP 207, DP 208 and related DPs) seeking replacements and new equipment—ranging from utility vehicles and box trucks to graders and forklifts—citing high mileage, remote facilities and staff retention as drivers.
Natalie Smitham, chief financial officer for the Department of Corrections, told the subcommittee the department presented several vehicle- and equipment-focused decision packages to address an aging fleet and retention challenges.
"DP 207 is replacing some owned vehicles that are up for in need of replacement their high mileage their old age we have concerns about them maybe breaking down on the side of the road," Smitham said, describing vehicles used inside secure facilities such as utility vehicles, maintenance trucks and box trucks used for daily deliveries.
Smitham said some vehicles are purchased because they are not available for lease from the state motor pool (examples include box trucks, gators and security vehicles with cages), while leased vehicles are used where the motor pool is an option. "Our lease vehicles are primarily in probation and parole our investigations unit and our transfer unit," she said. The department told the committee the owned fleet is maintained at the agencys motor vehicle maintenance shop.
Committee members pressed the department to clarify which decision packages were replacements and which would add to the fleet. Smitham said the department tried to separate requests by purpose: replacement requests were offered as present-base adjustments and additions were offered as new proposals. The department also said some items had been requested but not approved in the prior session and were reintroduced.
The packages include DP 207 (vehicle replacements for secure facilities), DP 208 (heavy equipment such as graders, lifts and forklifts), and additional packages that distinguish leased vehicles and new additions to the fleet (DP 210/DP 211). The department said it provided members a breakdown, including facility assignments and officer-to-vehicle ratios, in the decision-package worksheets and budget tracker.
No formal action on the vehicle or equipment packages was recorded in the provided transcript.
