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Bonner County EMS approves purchase of two F-150 responder vehicles as board stresses capital planning
Summary
The Bonner County Ambulance Service District authorized purchase of two 2026 F-150 police-responder vehicles with emergency equipment for $126,070 and discussed vehicle replacement cycles, long lead times for ambulances and setting up a capital account to smooth future purchases.
Bonner County's Ambulance Service District voted April 15 to buy two 2026 Ford F-150 police-responder vehicles equipped with emergency upfits for a total of $126,070.
Staff told the board the purchases respond to long lead times and a vehicle replacement policy that phases out ambulances at seven years or 150,000 miles and fly cars at 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. The presenter said ambulances can take up to 18 months to replace and that fly cars often require several months to receive aftermarket emergency equipment and enter service.
Commissioners discussed whether to continue buying diesel ambulances or switch to gas models, citing trade-offs including idle-time performance in mountainous terrain, engine longevity and purchase and maintenance costs. Staff noted examples from other Idaho services: some counties have shortened ambulance replacement cycles to eight years or less and larger counties budget for rapid replacements.
Board members also discussed a proposed capital account and plan to roll surplus funds into an account that would accumulate year to year to pay for vehicle replacements. Staff said the district is in the process of establishing that account and expects a future resolution to formalize it.
A motion to approve the purchase from Mike White Ford of Cordellane was moved and passed by roll call. The board noted plans to auction surplus vehicles and to channel proceeds back into the capital account to offset future purchases.
The district's next steps include completing the purchase and returning to the board with any follow-up details about surplus-vehicle disposition and how the buy will be reflected in the district's projected cash flows.
