Okay so now we have the full picture. $227,220 for two Durangos + equipment + Taser 10 bundle.
Let’s break down what’s likely in that package:
Taser 10 Bundle (for the whole department, not just 2 officers)
• Taser 10 units run ~$1,500–$2,000 each
• A department bundle with docks, cameras, software could be $20,000–$40,000
Ancillary equipment per vehicle (lights, siren, cage, push bumper, computer mount, radios)
• Typically $15,000–$25,000 per vehicle
So rough math:
• 2 Durangos @ ~$55K state contract = $110,000
• 2 upfits @ $20K each = $40,000
• Taser 10 bundle = $30,000–$40,000
• Legitimate total: ~$180,000–$190,000
That still leaves $37,000–$47,000 gap versus what they’re bonding.
The real outrage here isn’t the per-vehicle price — it’s that they’re bonding it over 5 years. Police cars. Taser equipment. Things that will be obsolete or worn out before they finish paying for them. Belmar taxpayers will be paying interest on Tasers that are already in a drawer somewhere.
calculate the total interest cost on that bond?
At typical NJ municipal bond rates right now (around 4.5–5%), on $215,859 financed over 5 years:
Monthly payment: ~$4,000
Total paid: ~$240,000–$245,000
Interest cost: ~$24,000–$29,000
So Belmar taxpayers are paying an extra ~$26,000 in interest to finance depreciating police equipment.
The kicker: A Durango PPV has a typical police service life of 5–7 years. They’ll be making bond payments on year 4 and 5 for vehicles that are already beaten up from beach town patrol — salt air, sand, constant short trips.
Total true cost to taxpayers: ~$253,000 for two SUVs and some Tasers.
For context on Belmar’s scale:
• ~6,000 year-round residents
• That’s roughly $42 per resident just for this one purchase
• A family of four is on the hook for ~$170 in taxes for this bond
The bonding of routine operational equipment is the part that should make taxpayers the angriest. Police cars are a maintenance budget item, not a capital improvement. Bonding them is how small towns quietly balloon their debt without anyone noticing.
Why can’t they sell some of those broken down junky vehicles that they have in the municipal parking lot? Between all those junk vehicles that haven’t moved and the permit parking signs, there is nowhere to park in that lot.
do they stream it live?
(Streamed live on Youtube, Editor.)
Okay so now we have the full picture. $227,220 for two Durangos + equipment + Taser 10 bundle.
Let’s break down what’s likely in that package:
Taser 10 Bundle (for the whole department, not just 2 officers)
• Taser 10 units run ~$1,500–$2,000 each
• A department bundle with docks, cameras, software could be $20,000–$40,000
Ancillary equipment per vehicle (lights, siren, cage, push bumper, computer mount, radios)
• Typically $15,000–$25,000 per vehicle
So rough math:
• 2 Durangos @ ~$55K state contract = $110,000
• 2 upfits @ $20K each = $40,000
• Taser 10 bundle = $30,000–$40,000
• Legitimate total: ~$180,000–$190,000
That still leaves $37,000–$47,000 gap versus what they’re bonding.
The real outrage here isn’t the per-vehicle price — it’s that they’re bonding it over 5 years. Police cars. Taser equipment. Things that will be obsolete or worn out before they finish paying for them. Belmar taxpayers will be paying interest on Tasers that are already in a drawer somewhere.
calculate the total interest cost on that bond?
At typical NJ municipal bond rates right now (around 4.5–5%), on $215,859 financed over 5 years:
Monthly payment: ~$4,000
Total paid: ~$240,000–$245,000
Interest cost: ~$24,000–$29,000
So Belmar taxpayers are paying an extra ~$26,000 in interest to finance depreciating police equipment.
The kicker: A Durango PPV has a typical police service life of 5–7 years. They’ll be making bond payments on year 4 and 5 for vehicles that are already beaten up from beach town patrol — salt air, sand, constant short trips.
Total true cost to taxpayers: ~$253,000 for two SUVs and some Tasers.
For context on Belmar’s scale:
• ~6,000 year-round residents
• That’s roughly $42 per resident just for this one purchase
• A family of four is on the hook for ~$170 in taxes for this bond
The bonding of routine operational equipment is the part that should make taxpayers the angriest. Police cars are a maintenance budget item, not a capital improvement. Bonding them is how small towns quietly balloon their debt without anyone noticing.
Excellent points Bill.
Why can’t they sell some of those broken down junky vehicles that they have in the municipal parking lot? Between all those junk vehicles that haven’t moved and the permit parking signs, there is nowhere to park in that lot.
a good capital improvement improvement would be a high speed EV charger @ PD … the outfitters like Ford EV police cars