Eanes Independent School District (ISD) in Travis County is set to acquire nine Tesla vehicles for its newly established police force. The decision follows the district’s earlier vote to form a police department to align with state mandates. The department aims to ensure rapid response to emergencies across its 32-square-mile jurisdiction in greater Austin.
In a video posted on September 29 on X, formerly known as Twitter, Superintendent Jeff Arnett stated that the district had solicited bids from over 90 vendors. “There were only two qualifying offers that were submitted and in evaluating those, Tesla was determined to be the best value for Eanes ISD taxpayers and we can get those vehicles in 60 days,” Arnett said. The second bid was rejected for not meeting the district’s long-term criteria and budget considerations.
The district will recommend awarding a contract to Austin-based Tesla for the purchase of nine police vehicles at an upcoming board meeting. Each vehicle is estimated to cost taxpayers about $42,000, totaling over $444,000. However, potential federal rebates could significantly reduce this cost, reports the San Antonio-Express News.
The Teslas are not considered luxury vehicles but are equipped with technology and sustainability features that “comply with law enforcement specifications,” according to the district. Arnett also noted that traditional fuel-powered vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford Expedition were either more expensive or had long back-order times.
EISD will recommend Tesla for the purchase of 9 police vehicles – necessary for incident response & rapid deployment to any campus in times of need. The proposed Tesla is not a luxury vehicle, is best value to taxpayers and available in 60 days. More info: https://t.co/ObVZmOCiIJ pic.twitter.com/MBpdF2rhHL
— Eanes ISD (@EanesISD) September 29, 2023
The district further explained that the one-time cost of installing each charging station and the yearly utility costs for electric vehicles would be considerably less than the maintenance and operation expenses for fuel-powered vehicles. The funds for the Teslas and charging stations will come from community-supported bonds for capital improvements.
The decision has sparked controversy among parents and community members concerned about the cost. Rep. Ellen Troxclair told CBS Austin, “So many people don’t have the money to purchase a Tesla for themselves. So it’s honestly a slap in the face to the taxpayers to turn around and say you didn’t spend this money for yourself, but we want to take your money and buy it.”
Eanes ISD cited other U.S. municipal police departments, including Dallas, that have adopted Tesla vehicles due to their return on investment.
