Enterprise Fleet Management pitches three-year rotation to cut police fleet costs

Caitlin Cuvillon, an Enterprise Fleet Management representative, presented a fleet evaluation to the Princeton Board of Works on July 6 outlining a financing and replacement plan for the police department.

Caitlin described an "open-ended equity lease" model she said avoids mileage penalties and wear-and-tear charges and preserves cash flow by leaving a residual value at the end of each contract. "No mileage, no wear and tear," Caitlin said, explaining the structure. She recommended a three-year rotation for pursuit-rated vehicles and identified 13 units that should be prioritized for replacement based on odometer readings; she noted her valuation estimates were "sight unseen" and based on vehicle year, type and mileage.

The presentation included a cash-flow comparison: Caitlin said the city's current approach would cost roughly $225,000 annually for the entire fleet and that implementing her recommendation would reduce first-year total cost of ownership to an estimated $197,000, producing a modeled benefit of approximately $326,000 over the planning horizon in her example. She emphasized that some numbers are model estimates and that certain aftermarket equipment costing over $10,000 may be better handled with a down payment (her example recommended a 50% down payment for such items).

Board members asked how soon a program could start and whether it should be considered during the budget process; Caitlin said Enterprise provides free fleet evaluations and can tailor terms to the city's budget. She also noted the city is a Sourcewell member and could access a winning contract through that cooperative procurement.

Caitlin left contact information for follow-up and the board did not take an immediate action on the presentation; members said they would consider the proposal during budget discussions.