Primary Department: Sheriff
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Gonzales, Sheriff
Managing Department: Universal Services
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Change Investment Memo
Project Name: Fleet Vehicles
Project ID (if applicable): NB001
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $0
Total Estimated Project Cost: $50,500,000
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Change Investment Memo for the Fleet Vehicles projects for no incremental authorization and request for approval of a reallocation up to $90,000 in budget savings from replacing leased vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office to purchase a refrigerated trailer.
end
Project Description:
On August 26, 2025, Commissioners Court approved $50.5 million in capital funding to be used on purchasing vehicles in FY2026, including $6.5 million to purchase vehicles that had previously been leased by County departments. This included 100 vehicles for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). Thanks to collaboration between HCSO and Universal Services (US) Fleet Management, HCSO was able to right-size the vehicles needed, which led to a savings of over $90,000. HCSO requests that this excess be allocated to the purchase of a refrigerated box trailer to replace existing, outdated equipment.
Currently, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office uses a 1997 Great Dane 53ft refrigerated box trailer. This memo will replace the old trailer with a new 48ft Air-Ride refrigerated trailer. The approved scope of the Fleet Vehicles project does not allow for the use of these funds on specialized equipment like trailers.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Outfitted Refrigerated Trailer |
$90,000 |
June 2026 |
|
|
$- |
- |
|
Total |
$- |
- |
Justification & Alternatives:
This new refrigerated trailer is essential for operations and will serve multiple critical purposes. Primarily, it will be used as a temporary morgue during mass-casualty events, ensuring we have the necessary resources when local capacity is strained. Additionally, it will support our disaster response efforts, similar to the deployment to Camp Mystic during last July's flood.
The trailer will be invaluable to HCSO's annual operations, including storing turkeys for distribution every Thanksgiving. Overall, it will be a versatile contingency asset that enhances our ability to respond effectively to various emergency and operational needs.
Given the trailer's expected lifespan of 20 years or more, HCSO believes the investment will deliver long-term benefits to our department and community.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
|
Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
|
N/A |
General maintenance and usage costs, including yearly inspections |
$1,500 |
Existing |
Yearly costs |
|
Total |
|
$1,500 |
|
- |
This will replace an existing trailer, so no net increase in cost is anticipated.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Previous Court Action:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Address: Multiple
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial Paper |
$ |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$90,000 |
$90,000 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 4/16/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Assistant County Attorney, 2/16/2026
Department Approval by: Michael Lanham, Director of Finance
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 2/16/2026
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: N/A
Project PeopleSoft ID: N/A
CP Series Description: N/A
OMB Financial Management contact: N/A