The city’s purchase of three new garbage trucks came in over budget by almost $200,000.

City Council approved a budget for the purchase of three trucks for $990,000 in 2017.

The request for the proposal came through at just under $1.2 million.

The trucks have exceeded their current lifespan of about seven years and currently, two of the trucks the city has are out for repairs.

“We issued an RFP on December 5, 2018, for the purchase of three trucks,” City Engineer Josh Mickleborough said. “We received proposals and we selected the supplier of the trucks and are seeking Council’s approval. The rewarded proposal was $1,179,331.62.”

Council approved the extra spending, which will come from the equipment control account.

“If we would have bought them two years ago... why so long until we do these purchases?” asked Councillor Dawn Luhning. “Is there any rationale? Why aren’t we making these purchases in the year they’re approved?”

“I think there were some internal delays in getting the tender out,” Mickleborough said. “But then we did go through the whole garbage thing, I think it was in 2017. What we were going to require to service the city and the back lanes was part of that consideration.”

He said they wanted to make sure they were getting the right fleet to service the city.

The motion to spend the extra money was carried.