Greenwood County council approves procurement variance to order 13 fire apparatus, delays payment until delivery
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Summary
The council unanimously approved a procurement variance and authorized staff to order 13 fire apparatus now under cooperative purchasing agreements, with an estimated first payment of about $10.5 million to be made after delivery and when capital-project sales tax revenues are received.
The Greenwood County Council voted unanimously to grant a procurement variance and allow staff to commit to ordering 13 fire apparatus under cooperative purchasing contracts tied to the county's 2024 capital project sales tax program. The vote authorizes staff to place orders now and pay after delivery, when referendum funds are expected to be available.
County Treasurer Stephanie Doering, speaking for county staff, told the council the capital-project sales-tax referendum is expected to generate about $21.1 million, with the first equipment payment expected to be roughly $10.5 million when funds arrive in September 2027. Doering said the county would not pay until equipment is received and that using cooperative purchasing frameworks (Houston-Galveston Area Council and North Carolina Sheriff's Association) would avoid financing and interest costs.
The chair and other council members asked about timing and fiscal exposure; Doering said delivery timelines are roughly 18 months and that the county would pay in cash after delivery. A vice chairman moved to approve the procurement variance and commitment to order; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Why it matters: Committing to buy fire apparatus ahead of funding availability is intended to lock in current pricing and meet evolving EPA and equipment standards before costs rise. The purchase is part of a multi‑phase public-safety plan that also includes ambulances and construction of new fire stations tied to the same sales-tax program.
What's next: Staff will proceed with ordering equipment under cooperative contracts and return with any required contract documents. The council did not vote to finance equipment; Doering said the county expects to pay on delivery from the capital-project sales-tax receipts.
