DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — Every month, Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggin asks the Piscataquis County commissioners’ permission to purchase two police cruisers for his department. Every month, the commissioners say no.
“We always put in our order for cruisers in January and we get them in April or May,” said Goggin on Monday. “Now all of a sudden, they’re telling us we can’t do that anymore because the towns are not sending in their taxes until August or September. They don’t have the money to pay for these cruisers in the county budget.”
Thomas Lizotte, chairman of the commissioners, said the county’s budget is set on Jan. 1 but many towns and unorganized territories do not pay their county taxes until the fall. For the first eight months of the year, the county has to borrow money and run on a line of credit.
In order to save the taxpayers some money in the form of interest, Lizotte said the commissioners sent department heads a memo in January, informing them to defer large capital expenditures until the fall.
“He wants [the cruisers] now,” said Lizotte. “In February he asked if he could have the cruisers now. In March, in April, in May he asked the same question. The answer has been consistent every time: We’re going to make the purchases when we have the cash in hand.”
Goggin said this has been a change in procedure from years past.
“This year, right out of the blue, they decided they weren’t going to do that anymore,” said Goggin. “The precedent was set many, many years ago on how they spend county funds.”
Goggin said he has $50,000 allocated in his budget for two new Ford SUV police cruisers. He said his budget is on a rotation where he buys one cruiser one year and then two cruisers the next year.
“We’re about four cruisers behind right now,” said Goggin. “We have two [vehicles] that are still on the road that really shouldn’t be on the road. They’re old and they have maintenance problems. They’re over 5 years old. Our rotation schedule calls for them to be taken off the road after five years.
“We’re in desperate need for these cruisers,” he said.
Lizotte said he doesn’t understand why Goggin can’t wait a little while longer so the county has the money and won’t have to borrow.
“On large capital expenses, it makes a lot of sense to not pay large finance charges on them when we can pay for them with cash in the fall,” said Lizotte. “It’s a five-month wait. His continuing to ask over and over again will not result in a different response.”
By law, the county commissioners have power over any purchases of $2,500 or more, said Lizotte.
“We are doing what the law says we should do and we think it’s better for the taxpayers to wait until we have the cash,” said Lizotte.
I was beginning to miss the monthly battles published in the BDN on the politics of Piscataquis County. Their only rivals would be the Androscoggin politics.
The number of miles that these cruisers go are amazing and that’s in one day. The patrol area is outrageous in this county. These older high milage cars on the highway isn’t going to be a problem, until its a problem. When there is an emergency and a car fails to make it and loss of life occurs, then people will be outraged that the car wasn’t replaced. Especially if that life is that of a child. School shootings aren’t off limits here (praises that we haven’t had any). Our state police aren’t always next door for back-up. I want to know if I call 911 that my officer has a car that’s going to get him to me and not break down, especially knowing he is probably driving 50 miles just to get to me!
I agree with your comment. The sheriffs fleet needs to be replaced. I know if i were to call for a sheriff that he or she has the means of coming to my rescue no matter what the problem may be. Let him buy the SUV’S. Lizotte is playing russian ruolette with this issue. People borrow money everyday and this has never been an issue before, but Lizotte is throwing his weight around because he can. The people who pay taxes shouldn’t allow this clown back in office next go around.
Keep records, I am sure that a lawsuit, handled by a good lawyer can justify charging lizotte and his cohorts with abetting a crime if the unforgivable happens.
Sheriff, that’s just the way it is. Make do with what you have or don’t do. Simple choice. The Commissioners are not remiss in trying to save the taxpayers money. If your cruisers are not roadworthy then take them off the road and notify the commissioners. That makes it their responsibility. Simple enough?
Sheriff, that not the way to run a good department. Don’t make do with what you have or don’t do. Simple choice, wait until an officer cannot get to a crime scene and a citizen dies. If your cruisers are not roadworthy then note that and notify the commissioners. Nicely done rebeccas_key.
The budget has been approved to purchase the vehicles, the commissioners are just playing games to cause trouble. If they were concerned about saving money they wouldn’t rack up the bills by purposefully ignoring the union contract that they approved and then decided to not abide by. The bills from that have to be 10-15k at least and counting.
There is nothing about saving money in any of this. It is all about causing as many problems as possible.
If what you say is true, then maybe what the Commissioners are saying is true, they have no money.
They approved the purchase of the vehicles in the budget. They are just playing games w/r/t when it can be purchased.
Most people I know who hold elective office do not have time for petty political games at the County level. Their job is oversight of the County budget among other responsibilities and capital expenditure decisions rest with them. What does the County treasurer say is available? What is the county’s borrowing capacity and rating? Your accusations are not substantiated However, if this is political gamesmanship there is no winner; only the loss to the taxpayer. No gain in that. Doesn’t make any sense at all.
If you think low level politics is free of in fighting and petty games I think you haven’t experienced politics.
How sad for you. I recommend that you pick better candidates for the office.
Some day you will escape your bubble and realize that politics of every level involves lots of snarky comments and underhanded dealings.
Put ’em on motorcycles!
I can see it now………..December 20th, 3 feet of unplowed, unsanded roads.
5 years old and he is crying . My car and truck are 15 years old and still run fine. My truck has 200k+ miles on it. Yes I do put money into them but way cheaper than a payment.
Bet you don’t drive 200 miles a day (like they do) and I’m sure you dont have to dump the gas to get to a domestic situation 23 miles away. If your car and truck had to do the stop and go thing twice as much as what you are going to argue they would do they would fail… We dont need these vehicles to fail when those in need, need them the most. BTW All sheriffs also carry an AED and are first responder certified….. Crap on them as you will but they will get to you as quick as they can and anyone else – provided they have the equipment to do so..
Is your car or truck being used as an emergency vehicle? You would be the first to cry foul if you needed the police to come to your aid, the lord forbid you would need one to protect you.
Any safety issue should be fixed . They should be working in top shape. Now to say a 5 year old car today is old or complain they have 100k miles is nonsense. Cars today are not like the 70s. I had one with 270k miles still ran good. If they have any safety issues they need to be fixed. Lets face it even new cars have problems . I for one would have no problem buying an ex police car most had better maintained than other cars . Yes the may be worked harder. Each car should be looked at to see the issue not replace the one 6 years old when the one 5 years old is in worse shape and more miles. I am saying use 15 year old cars with 200k on them. Safety and reliability should be first not age or miles.
They have 2/3rds the miles of your vehicle in 1/3rd the time. That makes a huge difference. Every single department in the USA swaps out cruisers at around 5 years because 5 years of abuse is just about all they can take.
Well the law is the law. The sheriff should know about law and not want to violate it. Nor whine either.
What?? Now there is a statement made by way of smoking something or other.
I am having difficulty understanding lizotte. Of course if I consider that he has a rabid hatred for police and the sheriff’s office in particular then it becomes clear. I had a question posed to me years ago regarding the use of a K-9. The County Commission, another county please, asked why they should support our program, “the dogs have not arrested anyone”. My response was that we should then give up our sidearms since they have not arrested anyone either. Now I see and read that Sheriff Goggin is dealing with the same type of mentality. My opinion is that John should maintain records of the denials to buy a cruiser, why? When an officer dies in a cruiser that is unsafe, the family should immediately sue the county and in particular lizotte the hater.
If the sheriff would participate in call sharing with State Police this woudn’t be an issue and the county would be saving money. All departments are having to tighten their belts as well as the general public. The days of spend, spend, spend are over. Republicans wanted smaller government and when they get it all they do is whine.
How will this “call sharing” save money? How will increasing response times help citizens in need?
Give them both the gloves and let them have it out. There could be a fundraiser and we could draw a crowd! The joke in the court house (Stitham) could be the referee and Chris Almy would make sure it was a fair fight.
A few years ago the Maine State Police had a number of service pistols that did not work properly. If the County has cars that are junk, what other equipment in that department is not up to acceptable quailty standards?
Based on what my understanding of what happened during last years budget meetings all county departments trimmed their budgets and the Sherriff’s office got a $100,000 increase. Biggest cost to the budget.
This is just the beginning of austerity…….remember what the state fleet of vehicles looked like after Governor Longley left office.
Austerity is what the whole country needs- and a huge dose of it, at that!
I agree, however when you kick someone of welfare that should not have been receiving benefits in the first place, that’s different than making sure that police officers are driving safe and reliable vehicles that have to be replaced sooner or later.
Rest assured people: The police will not be operating unsafe vehicles. Mostly all the buzz is snake oil and mirrors, but bottom line is that the cars will be inspectable and safe as what you’re driving-same inspection guidelines pertain.
What are you going to say when the cruisers breakdown and you have limited coverage? Better yet what are the citizens going to say to you when this happens?
How much interest would that involve if the cars were purchased now instead of 4 or 5 months down the road. My guess would be $1000 to $1500. This is a rather insignificant amount in the grand scheme of things. One would think that amount could be made up with the sale of just one of the older vehicles. It sounds like someone is trying to be a small-scale LePage at the expense of the county’s citizens.
Keep LePage out of this. He’s done more for this State in the few months that he has been there than Baldacci ever did-and we’re still picking up the pieces from the King spending spree. I’ve found that most folks who disdain LePage are mostly those who have been taken off the public nipple. You are obviously a transplant.
i have lived and worked in this state for over 6 decades. You are obviously one of the ill-informed or so well off that you don’t care about others. LePage has done more TO the people of this state than anyone in recent memory.
As I said-you are a Flatlander 60 years or not. Not that it has anything to do with Goggin and the County, but you are probably one of those Libs who still brings up George Bush in any political conversation that you partake in. LePage is cleaning out the barn, something that has been needed since Longley. Just for the record-I miss “W” and I love the bumper sticker that has his picture and the words”Do you miss me yet?”
:Piscataquis CTY is ONLY 26,000 miles square – how could you possibly wear out a cruiser?…Ths is simply Cty Comm Lizote exercising his power over the sheriff. Lizote needs to be gone !!!!