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Clayton County approves $2.36 million vehicle purchase for fleet; commissioners press for local vendors
Summary
The board approved using a cooperative contract to buy 34 vehicles—24 Ford Mustang packages and 10 Ford police interceptors—for $2,355,528. Commissioners pressed procurement staff on local vendor participation; the sheriff’s office chief said the purchase is urgent to avoid operational unreadiness and to aid recruitment.
The Clayton County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation to purchase 34 vehicles under an existing cooperative contract (CP 22-23), totaling $2,355,528, during its Dec. 16 meeting.
Procurement staff said the purchase is made off an existing contract the county has used since 2022. The order includes 24 2026 Ford Mustang packages and 10 2026 Ford police interceptors. Procurement staff explained local vendor preference exists in county code but said the vehicles were being purchased under cooperative contract pricing because local dealers either did not submit bids or the specific vehicles were not available on local lots.
Commissioner Hambrick expressed concern about the county spending more than $2 million with an out-of-county vendor when local dealers exist. “I would like for us to try and retain businesses and ... keep our money here in Clayton County,” she said.
Clayton County’s law-enforcement leadership and procurement staff described operational need. The police chief said the county faced a state of “operational unreadiness” if replacements were not bought and argued that reliable vehicles are a recruiting and retention tool: "One of the key recruitment items ... as we onboard these men and women to be police officers is these vehicles." Staff said many of the vehicles being replaced were beyond economical repair.
After questions and discussion, the board moved and approved the recommendation to authorize the chair to execute contract documents and for the CFO to amend the budget accordingly.
Why it matters: The purchase funds public-safety vehicle replacements and is framed by staff as essential to keep county fleets operable and to support recruitment. Commissioners’ questions highlight ongoing tension between the county’s procurement practices and local-business retention goals.
Next steps: The chair or her designee will execute documents and the interim CFO will amend the budget to reflect the purchase.
