Grant helps N.Y. FD purchase new command vehicles

By Robert Harding
The Citizen

AUBURN, N.Y. — Two state grants totaling $300,000 will help the city of Auburn buy five new fire and police vehicles.

The Auburn City Council on Thursday will vote to accept the funds through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology Program, known as CREST. The city requested the funding through state Sen. Rachel May, who represents Cayuga County.

One $150,000 grant will largely cover the cost of three new patrol vehicles for the Auburn Police Department. According to a city memo, the vehicles will replace three Ford Interceptors with high mileage.

The cost to replace three patrol vehicles is approximately $158,600. Funds from the police department’s operating budget will be used for the remaining portion not covered by the grant.

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A separate $150,000 grant will support the purchase of two new fire command vehicles. The Auburn Fire Department will replace a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 and a 2015 Ford that was repurposed from the police department. Both vehicles have reached the end of their useful lives.

Buying the new fire command vehicles will cost $155,924.54, meaning the grant will cover most of the expense. The remaining funds will come from the fire department’s operating budget.

Both vehicle replacement projects were included in the city’s 2025-29 capital improvement plan. To fund the capital projects, the city sought funding from other sources.

According to the memos accompanying the resolutions, the city submitted requests in February asking May for assistance with the vehicle purchases. In August, May notified the city that the state awarded the CREST grants.

To receive the grants, the city needs to formalize agreements with the Dormitory Authority of New York State, which administers the CREST program. The resolutions, if approved by the City Council on Thursday, will allow the city to accept the grants and advance the process.

Auburn has been awarded another CREST grant this year. The state will provide $75,000 for the city to buy self-watering planters from EarthPlanter, a division of Bo-Mer Custom Manufacturing in Auburn.
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