Rolling Meadows to buy two new police cars

Rolling Meadows is buying two new police cars for the city’s force now, though they won’t be put to use until next summer, according to officials.

On Tuesday, the Rolling Meadows City Council approved the immediate purchase of two 2011 Ford Crown Victorias from Sutton Ford in south suburban Matteson.

Waiting to make the purchase until spring, as was planned, could cost the city an additional $10,000 in higher prices and new models, said Police Chief Dave Scanlon. Scanlon did the research on finding new cars at lower prices and said this is the best price for these cars the city will find before they are no longer made.

The city will pay $20,860 per car. The cost will come out of the fiscal year 2011 budget under a budget amendment the council also unanimously approved on Tuesday.

The cars will replace two older vehicles that will be retired next spring. By making this purchase now, the city will not have to buy any new cars until 2013, which will help with budget issues, Scanlon said.

Scanlon said that the cars will sit until they are ready to be put into the fleet when the older cars are retired next year.

Budget discussions for fiscal year 2012 will continue on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Rolling Meadows committee of the whole meeting.