Item:
Title
Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC020 Appropriating $212,000.00 of General Fund Fund Balance to the Vehicle Fund Center for Increased Costs Related to a Previously Approved Ambulance Purchase
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: September 14, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC020, which authorizes the appropriation of $212,000.00 of General Fund Fund Balance to the Vehicle Fund Center to cover increased costs associated with the purchase of 11 previously approved Braun Liberty Custom Type I ambulances built by Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus.
When Durham County EMS placed its order for these ambulances in 2023, the price reflected the specifications and regulatory requirements in place at that time. After the order was submitted, the State of North Carolina adopted updated CAAS standards for all newly manufactured ambulances, requiring additional equipment, configuration changes, and compliance features not included in the original build. Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus confirmed that these CAAS updates increased the manufacturing cost of each unit, creating an unanticipated cost impact across all 11 ambulances.
In addition to the CAASrelated cost increases, the initial purchase did not account for the mandatory 3% Highway Use Tax applied to the total vehicle purchase price at delivery, and together these Statemandated CAAS upgrades and required Highway Use Tax produce a total cost increase of $212,000.00 above the originally approved amount for the ambulance purchase, ensuring this budget amendment fully funds the procurement of all 11 ambulances so Durham County EMS can move forward without delay while meeting regulatory requirements and satisfying all financial obligations tied to delivery, inspection, and vehicle titling.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This item aligns with Durham County Focus Area 3: Safe and Resilient Community Initiative 2a: Innovate and...
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