Public Works is requesting Mayor and Council approval for a $150,000.00 budget transfer to the Solid Waste Fund to cover critical vehicle repairs and ensure uninterrupted Solid Waste collection through the end of Fiscal Year 2026.

The adopted FY2026 budget for Vehicle Maintenance (Account 70000) is $165,000.00. As of February 2026, repair costs have already exceeded this amount, with four months left in the fiscal year. The Solid Waste Fund lacks internal capacity to absorb these overruns. To maintain operations, Public Works has temporarily reallocated funds from accounts such as Gas/Oil to cover repairs; these must now be replenished to ensure adequate funding through June 30, 2026. Accordingly, the $150,000.00 will be split between Vehicle Maintenance and Gas/Oil accounts (70000 and 70005), not applied solely to repairs.

Public Works seeks to reallocate $150,000.00 in unexpended balances from Capital Improvement Project #2025050 (West Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion). Finance has allowed for interim budget overrides to avoid truck downtime pending Council approval of this agenda item.

To reduce excessive equipment repair costs, Public Works has proposed a fleet replacement plan to City Administration and Finance, including a lease-to-own agreement for a new side-loader truck starting in FY2027 (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027) and an increased Vehicle Maintenance budget allocation. Both items are under review to maintain solid waste rate sustainability.

Public Works respectfully requests approval of the $150,000.00 budget capacity transfer from CIP #2025050 (West Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion) to the Solid Waste Fund (Accounts 70000 and 70005) to sustain collection operations through June 30, 2026.

Future Planning:
The Public Works Department's long-term plan is to maintain a fleet composed of vehicles between 1 and 10 years of age, with a maximum operational threshold of 15 years, consistent with industry standards and best practices for solid waste operations. A fleet replacement schedule has been presented to City Administration and the Finance Department and is currently under review.