PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County will replace 31 “critically aging” vehicles in its fleet of nonpolice and nonpublic safety vehicles.
“We have carefully developed a phased approach to address the backlog without overleveraging our reserves,” said Chief Financial Officer Malena Brookshire at the Feb. 24 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Brookshire added that no vehicles had been replaced in the last two fiscal years, and this move was a “strategic correction” that was carefully planned to make sure it didn’t affect the county’s operating budget. The funds to replace the vehicles will come from the prior fiscal year’s fund balance.
The 31 county vehicles to be replaced are just 12% (out of 261) nonpolice and nonpublic safety vehicles in use in the county. These 31 have been identified as priority needs — keeping them could result in rising maintenance expenses and a greater risk of operational disruptions. Replacing them will help reduce the current replacement backlog, prevent a surge in demand in fiscal 2027 and ensure continuity of county operations.
A number of vehicles on the list are for the Department of Public Works, including snow removal vehicles and trash removal vehicles.
Brookshire also said that the Department of Finance & Budget has been in “close contact” with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Safety to address the needs of police and public safety vehicles and will present a solution to the Board of County Commissioners in the coming weeks.
The budget amendment request will be left open for nine days as required, and then the Board of County Commissioners will vote to approve or deny the request.
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