The City of Butler is considering an equipment replacement program for its vehicles.

City council held a workshop session Monday at the city building to discuss the program. Currently, the city has a ladder truck, four police vehicles, and streets department vehicles in need of repair or replacement.

The program would allow the city to work with the community leasing department of First National Bank to replace vehicles as needed.

“You're always going to have a payment, but you're not going to have worn-out, junk equipment,” said Mayor Tom Donaldson.

He said the city will identify all of its equipment needs within the next two weeks.

Councilwoman Kathy Kline said the program would allow for the city to budget years in advance for when vehicles would tentatively need replaced.

Councilman Kenny Bonus said the new program could possibly require a city tax increase, but council will need to investigate the matter further before that decision would be made.

Donaldson stressed the importance of replacing the four police cars, as well as dump-trucks in the streets department, as soon as possible.

He estimated the cost of the police cars at around $39,000 each. He also said the city is looking at a rough estimate to build a new ladder truck, which is around $960,000.

Donaldson said the truck would be ready about one year from now. In the meantime, the existing ladder truck will be used as an additional pumper truck.

Donaldson noted that all the replacement vehicles would come fully equipped and ready for service. He also said the city will listen to its department heads regarding specifics for vehicles.

“We'll listen to what the firemen say,” he said. “We'll get pretty much what they want, because that's what they do. We'll listen to the police department, because that's what they do.”

The city has been in talks with Chuck Glagola of Smeal Fire Apparatus for a new ladder truck. Kline said she hopes the city makes a deal with Smeal, because of a strong working relationship with the company.

Bonus said the vehicles would be paid for out of either the city's debt service fund or its liquid fuels fund.