Kosciusko County approves sheriff’s replacement vehicles, authorizes 2026 Tahoe orders

Kosciusko County commissioners approved two replacement Ford Explorers for the sheriff’s office and authorized staff to place orders for two 2026 Chevrolet Tahoes to secure allotments for next year.

The sheriff told commissioners he had located two black 2025 Ford Explorers on a Plainfield dealer lot and that the vehicles are priced at $47,912.20 each. “Those are $47,912.20,” the sheriff said. The board voted to approve purchase of the Explorers using budgeted funds.

The sheriff and county staff also discussed getting ahead on next year’s fleet purchases. Staff said Kelly Chevrolet advised that Tahoe allocations are constrained statewide, and that to avoid multi‑month delays they recommended ordering sooner rather than later. The price cited was $54,557 per Tahoe. Commissioners voted to authorize ordering two Tahoes now for the 2026 budget; the expense will be incurred in 2026 when the vehicles are received.

Why it matters: The purchases affect the sheriff’s ability to maintain a modern patrol fleet and reflect supply‑chain constraints on specific makes and models. Commissioners emphasized the purchases will be funded from already‑budgeted amounts or charged to the 2026 budget.

Votes and procedure: The motion to approve the Explorers and the motion to authorize ordering the Tahoes were both moved, seconded, and approved by the commission during the meeting. The sheriff and county staff said the Explorers will replace vehicles lost over the year and that the Tahoes represent a modest price increase from last year’s models.

Next steps: The ordered Tahoes will be delivered according to manufacturer and dealer scheduling and will be charged to the county’s 2026 vehicle budget when received.