County staff says enterprise leasing is reducing fleet maintenance burden

A county staff member updated the board on the enterprise vehicle lease program that began in mid‑2024, saying the county currently has about 35 department vehicles on lease and that staggered terms should lower maintenance costs and average fleet age. The presenter noted one transmission-related recall and one warranty brake pad failure among recent deliveries, and said the oldest county vehicles previously reached 50,000–100,000 miles with significant mechanical issues.

A sheriff’s office representative told commissioners that older cars had become safety concerns for deputies. “Some of our old cars needed a transmission. The transmission was going to cost more than the car was worth,” the sheriff’s representative said, and praised the leasing approach for improving safety and operational reliability. Staff said the enterprise team has been responsive and that, if extended to other departments, leasing could reduce long-term maintenance expenses; commissioners asked staff to monitor delivery timing and warranty performance as the county considers expanding the program.