AMHERST — Amherst City Council’s Finance Committee approved a major change April 20 in how the city will pay for a new fire department pumper truck, moving from an original cash purchase plan to a five-year lease-to-own financing agreement after officials said paying upfront was no longer the most fiscally prudent option.
The pumper truck itself was approved by council about three years ago, and Mayor Mark Costilow said the truck has already been built and the city had previously agreed to purchase it. The new legislation does not change the purchase of the truck itself, but instead changes how the city will pay for it.
“The original agreement was to pay cash, but it would be more fiscally prudent to finance the truck,” Costilow told council.
The city is now seeking to enter into a five-year lease-to-own agreement through Freedom Financial for the Amherst Fire Department vehicle.
While officials did not provide a full financial breakdown during the meeting, the shift suggests the city is prioritizing preserving available cash reserves rather than making one large upfront payment. Spreading the cost over several years can ease short-term budget pressure, though it may also result in additional financing costs over time.
Councilman David Janik asked who Freedom Financial was and whether the company was approved by the state. Costilow said the lender is the same company that makes the truck and is also approved by the state.
Councilman John Mowcomber also asked whether the new pumper truck would replace an older fire truck currently in service. Costilow said he believed it would and said he would provide a final answer at a later meeting.
The committee voted unanimously to send the measure to full council with emergency language.
Other items approved during the meeting included a correction to the city’s 2026 permanent budget after a $30,000 capital outlay line item was omitted due to a formula error, participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s winter road salt contract for the 2026-27 season, the purchase of a new 2027 Freightliner M2 for the street department, and approval of an Altec hydraulic derrick truck for the electric department.
The Freightliner will replace an aging street department truck, while the hydraulic derrick will help electric crews reach taller utility poles and improve maintenance access across the city.
