Mableton council approves $5.14 million, five-year lease to pay for 76 police vehicles and radios
The council approved the Georgia Municipal Association financing 7-0 on the consent agenda. Funding was identified in the FY2027 budget within the Public Safety Special Service District. Charging stations aren't part of the deal, and staff couldn't say whether the escrow account earns interest.
The Mableton City Council approved a $5,138,737.58 master lease with the Georgia Municipal Association on Oct. 14. The money will pay for the new police department's vehicles and radios. According to the minutes of the regular meeting, the lease was one of eight items on the consent agenda, which the council approved 7-0 "as written." Councilmember Keisha Jeffcoat made the motion and Councilmember Ron Davis seconded it. The vote authorizes the mayor to sign the lease and the resolution that goes with it, RES 2026-10-03, "in substantial form."
What the city is paying
The terms appear in the minutes of the work session held earlier that evening. The lease runs five years at 4.25% interest, with annual payments of $1,162,418.61. Funding was identified in the FY2027 budget within the Public Safety Special Service District.
Five payments of that size add up to about $5.81 million. By Hello Mableton's arithmetic, that is roughly $673,000 more than the amount being financed. The minutes give no total repayment figure.
According to the minutes, the lease pays for 76 police vehicles, upfitting, and radios for officers and vehicles. A staff memo listed 56 hybrid patrol vehicles, 20 electric administrative vehicles and Motorola radios. The minutes say the briefing explained that buying the vehicles and equipment in bulk without financing "would leave less funding available for establishing the department."
What the lease leaves out
Councilmember Cassandra Brown asked whether charging infrastructure was included. According to the minutes, charging stations are not part of the lease. Existing city charging stations and possible grants were discussed as ways to serve the electric vehicles. The minutes record no cost estimate for chargers.
Deputy Finance Director Denise Lowe said the full amount would be deposited into an escrow account and drawn down as vehicles are bought. Brown asked whether that money would earn interest. Lowe said such accounts typically do, but she "did not confirm that provision in the proposed agreement," the minutes say.
The briefing said the Georgia Municipal Association's program charges no upfront fees, no prepayment penalties and no residual payment at the end of the lease. The vehicles become city property once the lease is fully repaid. On maintenance, staff said the vehicles would carry warranties of varying lengths.
City Manager Tanks said Finance had found leasing to be the best model for managing cash flow and best practice for fleet management. Public Safety Director Stallings described one vehicle per officer, citing 44 patrol officers and ten detectives. Electric vehicles are planned for detectives and administration. Extra patrol vehicles would be available if one became unavailable during a shift.
What remains unknown
Hello Mableton has not seen the lease agreement, the staff memo or the agenda packet. The minutes do not say:
- whether the escrow account will earn interest, and who would keep any earnings
- how much the charging stations will cost and where that money will come from
- which lender in GMA's network is financing the deal
- when the vehicles will be delivered