City Controller Rachael Heisler is out with a report on the shape of the city's fleet.
The report includes photos of a rusted out public works truck, where between repairs, parts and labor, it cost about $150,000 dollars to fix.
This type of emergency repair makes up about 60 percent of the fleet's maintenance cost.
One reason repair costs are so high is the state and age of the fleet.
Heisler's report says nearly half has exceeded its life span.
“We need to invest in our fleet,” said Controller Heisler. “It’s been neglected year after year, and we are quite literally paying the price. It’s costing us money, and it’s undermining the way we deliver most essential services. The proposed 2026 budget again under-invests in the fleet, and on top of that, artificially deflates the amount we know we will have to spend to maintain the aging fleet that we do have. This is bad for the City’s financial health, it’s bad for residents’ quality of life, it’s just bad across the board.”
Heisler recommends City Council be kept abreast each year on the state of the fleet or, the city works with non-profits to set up a trust fund specifically for buying EMS and fire vehicles.
Read the full report here.