Buckfield weighs up to $430,000 loan to replace aging ambulance

The Town of Buckfield asked voters on Nov. 4 whether to authorize the town treasurer to obtain a loan not to exceed $430,000 and to authorize the manager and select board to purchase a new ambulance.

Town staff told the Oct. 21 hearing that the current unit is a 2012 Ford F-450 with about 12,000 engine hours (presented as roughly equivalent to 360,000 miles). Quotes to repair or remount the vehicle ranged from several thousand dollars for short-term repairs to six figures for remounts; last reliable remount estimates discussed at the meeting included figures near $179,000 (previous estimates varied) and remount lead times were described by vendors as roughly 3–4 months once a spot is secured.

The town currently holds a capital asset reserve with $111,002.54 available; managers said that reserve would be applied toward the purchase or remount but would not cover a full new-vehicle purchase at the high end of estimates. Board members and residents discussed options including paying for repairs (no guarantee of longevity), purchasing a used ambulance, remounting a chassis, or borrowing up to the $430,000 cap to preserve flexibility. One official said rental ambulances cost about $125 per day (approximately $50,000 per year) as a contingency if a unit is unavailable.

Residents pressed for clarity on past vendor communications and on why repairs were not performed in real time; staff said the vehicle had been out of service since May and that contracting and remount timelines, plus available stock of used units, complicated a timely replacement.

At the Oct. 21 meeting the select board did not vote to borrow funds; the loan authorization is presented to voters on Nov. 4 so the board can retain flexibility between remount, used purchase, or new purchase depending on vendor quotes and availability.