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Culpeper supervisors approve using savings to buy sheriff vehicles rather than borrow
Summary
The board approved removing planned borrowing from the FY25 budget and purchasing sheriff vehicles outright using roughly $800,000 in outside-jail‑services savings; staff said the package of vehicles and equipment totals about $810,000 and buying now would save interest costs.
Culpeper County supervisors voted Aug. 6 to buy new sheriff vehicles outright using available savings instead of issuing the three‑year borrowing that had been included in the FY25 budget.
County Administrator John Eggerson told the board that about $800,000 in savings from outside jail services is available and that purchasing the fleet now would avoid interest costs the county would incur by borrowing. Eggerson said financial advisors had hesitated about taking funds straight from the general fund, but noted the savings were carry‑forward amounts directly attributable to outside jail services reductions.
Finance staff provided cost estimates for the vehicles and required upfitting — lights, bars and radios — of roughly $810,000. Valerie Lamb told the board the borrowing line currently accounts for $300,000, so carrying forward roughly $500,000 of the savings would cover the remainder of the package.
A supervisor moved to approve the administrator’s recommendation to remove the borrowing from the budget and proceed with outright purchase; the board approved the motion on a voice vote. Officials said vehicles will be county‑owned and county maintenance contractors will provide service under existing arrangements.
The board did not attach additional conditions to the purchase motion; staff will finalize procurement and funding transfers.
