Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton and Fire Chief Gary Corbet presented modest budget requests to city council during a work session today.

Hinton said his proposed budget is line with the current fiscal year but his “extraordinary” expense is with vehicles getting older, which is an item included in his capital outlay budget.

Hinton noted in his proposed budget he would like to buy 15 Chargers which he estimates to cost $330,945. He proposes the cars be paid for through 35 percent grant funds and 65 percent bank financing. “If we are able to make this purchase it would put our fleet on solid ground for a few years and allow us to then begin in five years to purchase four to five vehicles at a time,” he said in notes contained in the proposed financial plan.

Hinton told council the average life of a police car is eight to nine years. “We usually get about seven years out of a vehicle.”

A typical police car about to be retired usually has 100,000 miles on it. “We’ve got some exceeding the seven to eight (year) mark. You’re looking at $1,800 to $2,000 (in maintenance) on a car worth $1,500 or $1,300. I don’t feel it’s cost effective,” Hinton said.

City Manager Paul Sabiston said grant funding is logical because it knocks off $130,000 for five years. “That’s a pretty substantial amount. It’s a pretty good reduction for amortized payments.”

With financing, Sabiston said once a car is bought payments usually don’t start until one year later.

Fuel usage has remained the same over the last five to six years, Hinton said, and in some instances has gone down. The police department uses about 3,200 gallons a month.

Councilman Carl Ferebee said the fuel budget looked about the same as easy year. “It seems like it could use some modification.”

Said Hinton: “I feel safe to leave it like it is.”

Hinton decreased his tire request to $12,000. This year $18,500 is budgeted. “We had a little spike in prior years. We had to look at using used tires from the state. Everything we’ve got (now) has new and proper tires.”

Hinton is proposing $4,800 for ammo in the upcoming fiscal year which is more than the $2,518 this year. “The overall cost has gone up. We have to order ammunition a year out before we get it.”

The biggest budget concern in the fire department is also a capital need: $20,000 to replace the swivel on the ladder truck.

“It’s prudent to get that replaced,” Corbet said.

In his budget notes Corbet said the swivel operating the turntable of the aerial ladder “is worn to a point of possible failure. This failure may occur at any time when we have raised the ladder.”

The manufacturer — KME — says the piece may fail the next time it is used or it may last two to three years.

The ladder truck is 12 years old and won’t be paid for until 2015. “They tell me they’ve had problems with it since it got back to the station.”

The cab has fallen off the truck in the past.

“It’s one of those things,” Sabiston said. “They are going to need a new ladder truck in the near future. There is a lot of USDA money available.”

Corbet said the highest a new ladder truck would cost is probably about $750,000. “The pumps are working fine. The biggest problem is the ladder.”

If the swivel is repaired, Corbet said the vehicle could reach its 30 year potential.

The next budget work session is next Thursday at 3 p.m. in the first floor conference room of city hall. Council will review the public works budget.