Washtenaw County approves first-year payment for 14-vehicle fleet lease with Enterprise

Washtenaw County commissioners approved a one-year, $258,003.60 payment from the general fund to begin a fleet-management and open-end lease agreement with Enterprise that will replace 14 county vehicles and transition future lease payments to the sheriff’s office budget.

Enterprise presented its fleet-management proposal to the board, describing the open-end (equity) lease as a tool that “allows us to match a holding period with payment term.” The vendor said the approach reduces near-term cash outflow, avoids traditional dealership penalties for over-mileage or interior wear, and allows the county to capture equity from vehicle resale.

The vendor provided an illustrative example showing a $33,000 vehicle operated for four years and 100,000 miles with a projected end-of-term payoff amount of $9,000 and an expected resale of $15,000, producing a $6,000 residual benefit to the county under Enterprise’s model. The company also presented a first-year capital outlay estimate for 14 vehicles and police equipment and a projected net capital outlay of $258,003.60 after an approximate $45,000 in trade-in/resale value.

Enterprise said it would provide a dedicated county account team, coordinate warranty and maintenance claims, and administer maintenance payments as they occur. The presenter said Enterprise expects to reduce maintenance costs by roughly 60% compared with the county’s current replacement strategy and will monitor mileage patterns quarterly to recommend replacement “sweet spots,” which the vendor described as roughly 40,000–70,000 miles in current modeling.

A commissioner noted the change could help recruitment and retention by allowing deputies to sell or replace vehicles before they are “completely whipped out.” The board discussed funding: the initial year’s payment would come from the general fund, and the sheriff’s office would carry future annual lease payments.

On a roll-call vote, commissioners recorded unanimous support. The clerk called Vaughn: yes; Tyler: yes; Sagi: yes; Nelson: yes; Diane: yes; Benoit: yes. The motion passed.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda — Approved (voice vote; recorded as passed in the transcript). Details of items on the consent agenda were not specified in the provided transcript excerpt.

- Resolution 25-10 (Westwood community plan and FY2026 grant application) — Motion to approve was made; vote/outcome not specified in the provided transcript excerpt.

- Motion to pursue a lease agreement with Enterprise for fleet management (initial payment $258,003.60 from the general fund; future payments from the sheriff’s office budget) — Approved (roll-call vote; all recorded commissioners voted yes).

Background and significance

County staff said the proposal would replace 14 vehicles in the sheriff’s fleet in the first year, including police-specific outfitting, and rely on Enterprise’s resale channels. The vendor emphasized flexibility to terminate leases early and administrative support managing maintenance and warranty processes. Commissioners asked about turnaround time for selling replaced vehicles (the presenter said under 30 days) and about coverage for crash or pursuit damage (covered by manufacturer warranty and coordinated through the vendor).