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DOC outlines equipment and vehicle needs; ranch operations reduced after vendor changes
Summary
DOC officials described equipment purchases and a vehicle replacement strategy and said ranch dairy operations shrank after outside buyers canceled contracts; a pheasant farm run by DOC industries remains productive.
Department officials told legislators they are evaluating whether leasing equipment and vehicles is more cost-effective than one-time purchases and described a need for vehicle upgrades in probation and parole and for specialized secure-facility vehicles.
Department staff said vehicles used by probation and parole are often small cars that lack clearance for rural home visits; staff described a request to replace many small cars with full-size SUVs for officer safety and to add leased vehicles so officers are not forced to share cars. The department noted secure facilities often need specialized or heavy equipment such as lifts, graders and forklifts that may be better leased and maintained on a replacement schedule rather than bought in large one-time purchases.
On the ranch, DOC officials described a large property at the Montana State Prison used for agriculture and industries. The department said the dairy operation was scaled back after a private purchaser canceled contracts; staff said a retail partner had concerns about inmate labor and contract terms. Department staff said the pheasant farm operation managed by prison industries remains productive and continues to supply fish and game releases for youth hunts.
Lawmakers asked for more itemized information about equipment line items, vehicle-life-cycle plans, and comparative cost data for leasing versus purchasing; department staff committed to provide comparison documents and to break down the equipment requests by facility and estimated annual replacement costs.
Why it matters: Vehicle safety, equipment maintenance and revenue-generating industries affect operational costs, staff safety and facility self-sufficiency. The committee requested detailed cost analyses and lifecycle plans to evaluate lease-versus-purchase choices and to understand the fiscal impact of reduced dairy contracts and current industry outputs.
The department will return with an itemized equipment list, a vehicle replacement plan with cost comparisons for leasing versus purchasing, and a list of vendors and outside entities that buy ranch or industry products.
