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Vendor pitches vehicle‑leasing plan to Clewiston; officials weigh costs, maintenance and timing
Summary
Unified Fleet Services outlined a municipal leasing program for patrol, public‑works and specialized vehicles, proposing three‑year leases, no mileage penalties, retained title and return of resale equity; commissioners asked for comparative cost figures and asked staff to include lease options in the upcoming budget process.
Devin Bloomfield, representing Unified Fleet Services, told the Clewiston City Commission on June 22 that his firm can provide municipal leasing for patrol cars, public works equipment and specialty apparatus and that the company’s program would allow the city to keep title, avoid expensive removal of hardwired equipment at lease end and return 100% of resale equity from vehicle sales to the city.
“The only reason we ever calculate mileage into a proposal . . . is because we’re trying to project what the value of the vehicle’s going to be in the future,” Bloomfield said, adding that when a leased vehicle is sold “100% of what we sell the vehicle for above what the balance on the financing is, comes back to the city.” He said his company typically models three‑year terms at about 30,000 miles per year to reduce maintenance uncertainty and stabilize budget planning.
Bloomfield described a full service model that can include upfits (he cited typical upfit costs of $16,000–$25,000 depending on equipment), bundled purchases for items such as body cameras and options to finance larger apparatus such as fire trucks on extended terms. He estimated lead times of roughly six to eight weeks for common units if inventory is available and said his team can coordinate local outfitters or source vehicles nationally.
Commissioners asked for a formal comparison of monthly lease costs versus purchase, and for details on maintenance logistics. Staff and the presenter said local warranty support could be handled in Clewiston for some models, while others might need service in nearby Avon Park, Sebring or Okeechobee. Bloomfield also presented sample monthly figures during Q&A: roughly $1,972 per month for a Ford Explorer with a $20,000 upfit included in the example and $1,792 for a Dodge Durango in the proposal, and said the department was initially considering leasing three to four units in the first budget cycle rather than replacing the whole fleet at once.
The commission did not take immediate action; members asked staff to return with a side‑by‑side cost comparison (purchase vs. lease), a proposed procurement approach, and budget impacts to consider during the upcoming budget workshops.
