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Spend $40,000 to rebuild a public-works truck, a commissioner said, instead of $120,000 on a new one

Article based on July 27, 2026 City Commission Special Budget minutes, made available via city website ~Aug 8, 2026

At the July 27 budget hearing, Commissioner George said public works wanted about $120,000 for a new flatbed truck and that replacing the bed and tailgate on the 10-year-old one would cost about $40,000 and buy another five years.

Fifty percent more life for a third of the price, she said, would save $80,000 in a year the city is mailing a 2.6700-mill property-tax notice. Finance Director Patty Douylliez told the Commission that at 2.6700 mills the only draw on reserves in the proposed book was that public-works vehicle, about $120,000 from garbage-department reserves.

The 3 percent raises stayed in the same book. The $120,000 line was not stripped that night.

Sources

  1. City Commission Meeting, July 27, 2026 agenda packet (PDF) July 27, 2026 special budget meeting; proposed FY27 tentative millage of 2.6700; TRIM notices to property owners; maximum 3% employee raises (2.5% COLA, 0.5% merit).
  2. City Commission Meeting, July 27, 2026 livestream (YouTube) Commissioner George’s $120,000 new-truck vs. $40,000 bed-and-tailgate rebuild, five more years on a 10-year-old truck, $80,000 savings; Douylliez that the only reserve draw at 2.67 mills is one public-works vehicle of about $120,000 from garbage reserves; 3% raises in the proposed budget; no vote stripping the line that night.

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