Municipal fleets are essential for delivering a wide range of city services—often on wheels—such as police and fire response, water distribution, wastewater treatment, and solid waste collection. While most residents may not understand the inner workings of local government, they expect basic services to be delivered reliably, efficiently, and at minimal cost.

It is the responsibility of city officials and staff to meet these expectations. To do so, they must maintain a dependable fleet. Although it's tempting to maintain the status quo or delay vehicle and equipment purchases—especially during economic downturns—this approach is unsustainable. The question becomes: how should municipal leaders effectively manage and fund fleet operations?