1/12/2010 9:55:00 PM
County gets $548,000 grant for hybrid cars
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| Linda Stein/The Daily Courier
New hybrids in the Yavapai County fleet will save about 12,000 to 13,000 gallons of gas a year. |
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Green vehicles will soon join the Yavapai County fleet.
Last month, the federal government awarded Yavapai County a $548,200 grant to buy hybrid cars and sport utility vehicles. While the Board of Supervisors must still approve the grant, Jim Holst, the county capital improvements coordinator, said he hopes the check from the Department of Energy will arrive soon. The county must pay about $1 million of its own money to take advantage of the federal grant, Holst said.
"The capital improvements fund will pay for the match and the general fund will pay capital improvements back when they're able to do that," Holst said.
Dave Gartner, who manages the county fleet, said the county has not replaced vehicles for two years because of economic constraints. Instead, workers repair the old cars and SUVs to keep them on the roads.
"We're just keeping them rolling right now," Gartner said.
About 500 county-owned vehicles are paid for through the general fund while the Highway User Revenue Fund pays for another 250 vehicles, including road graders and dumps trucks, he said. The federal grant, which requires a $1 million county match, would be used for general fund vehicles.
Holst said the county will transfer money from its capital improvement fund to pay its share of the cost for the hybrids. The county must pay what the actual cost of the car would be if it ran on gasoline and use the federal dollars to pay the difference charged for the hybrid.
County officials will request bids for the hybrids and hopes to buy 23 this year and another 23 next year. While most county vehicles are used by the Sheriff's Office, only a few hybrids will likely end up there since they aren't police cruisers. Perhaps some of the detectives will use them, Gartner said.
Gartner expects the taxpayers to see a savings in money the county spends on fuel, with the new vehicles using 12,000 to 13,000 gallons fewer each year. The amount of savings will depend on the price of gasoline.
"We needed to buy vehicles anyway," Holst said. "The savings to the taxpayers is in lower gas consumption."
The grant requires that the county "buy American" when purchasing the hybrids. That means that the cars must be assembled in the U.S.; a car made by an American company but manufactured abroad would not qualify.
"We're ready to go," Holst said. "It's just that we need to know when the feds will send us the check. I think it'll be pretty cool having all these hybrids. This is very clean way to spend stimulus money."
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Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Fed Up!
I'd sure like a new car this year too! Fortunately, my step-daughter, one of those "Grant Application" people is now unemployed! I can't think of a better thing to happen for our economy. Tax away our money, then give it to those who don't deserve it? What a gumming rip-off!!
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Until you've riden in one...
Unfortunately, it sounds like most of you have no real idea what majority of our county cars look like or run like. I do! The seats are broken, they constantly break down. There is always something wrong with them. And, huh, imagine that, it costs money every time they get serviced and a loaner is provided. Despite what many of you think, these new cars are a necessity! Some departments, like mine, have not seen a "new" car come to us in nearly 10 years! Our "newest" addition was a 2000 cavalier. Although many of you feel there are not any county employees left to drive these cars the truth is there are. And we all need to drive all over Yavapai County to do our county job. And I for one cannot wait for the opportunity to drive something reliable and green!
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Dave- NOT anonymous
Hey- Steve Ayres, you are a real cynical guy. JC man THAT WAS A JOKE- HA HA. Get a grip on your sense of humor and leave the attitude for your dog. ... Lighten UP. Hope someone else on this blog "got the joke".
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Go ahead:
The counties cycle the vehicles through and try to buy SOME new ones every two years. I drive county vehicles. I have not driven one that is any newer than 1999. It is a mess and must cost an arm and a leg to maintain. Sorry to disapoint you but not all these grants are a waste of tax payer money.
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Go ahead spend, spend, spend...
"The Watcher": You got that right. I have a car with 200k miles on it, on the second motor because I can't afford a new one but the county gets one every two years with my money! Loven it
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Kermit says it's not easy bein' green
But we will all feel better because we will be "green".
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Erika
What happened to owning a car until it dies. Instead, you buy a new one every couple of years just because you can. That's why the goverment is in trouble. Alot by purchasing unnecessary things.Oh wait it's not your money it's the taxpayers.
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
The Watcher
Spending money to save money, another bright county idea. The county needs more cars for the over abundance of employees that they do not have. Just like the county needs to build new buildings for imaginary employees of the future.
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Silence Dogood
Unfortunately, the only hybrid models that are made in the USA, by Ford, is their Escape and the Merucry Mariner SUV's. The Fusion, is assembled in Mexico and wouldn't qualify under the guidelines of the grant!While the Escape and Mariner's are great little hybrids they carry a $9000.00 price premium over their "gas" cousins!Hope the county can come up with a good deal!
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
John Lutes
No Dave,I've not got any financial interest in the auto industry, just a taxpayer that does not believe in my dollars going to a socialized auto industry, nor a socialized banking industry for that matter. I've never before in my life been a big fan of the blue oval, but they are making some good hybrids without taxpayer subsidies.If I was sales manager for Galpin, you probably would not have seen my last name here, Yours?
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Barbara B
We have to spend $1 MILLION of taxpayer money to get $548 thousand - sound likes an exhorbitant interest rate and more spending. Will these new cars replace old cars? If so, go for it, if it's an addition - SAVE the money for something needed.
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Steven Ayres
I know John Lutes, and no, he's not involved professionally with vehicle sales in any way. In a logical world that comment by the anonymous "Dave" would normally be considered a pure personal attack and deleted as violating the Courier's terms of use.
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Dave
John Lutes, let me guess. You're fleet sales manager at Galpin Ford right?
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Article comment by:
John Lutes
Great for Yavapai County. We should buy all Fords because they did not accept the bail-out money. Escape SUV.s and Fusion sedans would be fantastic!
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