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Northlake council hears D & M Leasing pitch for town fleet; captain cites $400,000 three‑year savings
Summary
Captain Coleman and D & M Leasing outlined a turnkey municipal fleet‑leasing program the town is considering, with predictable payments, faster delivery/upfitting and an estimated $400,000 savings over three years; a resident urged the council to see hard numbers before deciding.
Captain Coleman introduced a proposed partnership with D & M Leasing to lease police and municipal vehicles rather than buy them outright, saying the lease model could improve delivery and upkeep and reduce out‑of‑warranty maintenance costs.
"If we can keep vehicles on a 36‑ to 48‑month rotation and avoid costly out‑of‑warranty repairs, that keeps newer, safer vehicles on the street," Captain Coleman said. He told council the leasing model would place the leasing company in charge of ordering and upfitting so the town pays only after delivery.
Joshua Haddad, regional vice president for D & M Leasing, told council the company is Texas‑based, participates in cooperative procurement vehicles (BuyBoard, Sourcewell, Choice Partners, TIPS) and offers turnkey fleet management — acquisition, financing, fuel and maintenance programs, disposition and auctioning at end of term. "There's no mileage restriction," Haddad said, adding that lease structures for government accounts take operational use into account and seek to protect residual values.
Council members asked about lead times, negative equity and budgeting. Haddad said factory order to delivery typically runs 4–6 months and that any negative equity could be rolled into the next lease if necessary. Captain Coleman summarized a preliminary analysis, saying staff is "looking at over the 3 years about $400,000 in savings" by smoothing payments instead of paying for multiple vehicles up front.
Resident Joel McGregor, speaking during public comment, said he wanted to see detailed cost comparisons. "I can see how immediately it might be cheaper because you're not having to buy the car," McGregor said, "but over the time of the lease ... that leasing company's gotta be making their money too."
