At the last meeting of the Boothbay Harbor Budget Committee, the town selectmen and committee discussed how to recoup the funds spent in the emergency purchase of the Bobcat Toolcat.

The purchase was approved at the Feb. 23 selectman’s meeting for the lowest bid of $69,591.74 from Jordan Equipment in Falmouth. When an emergency purchase is made using the town’s undesignated funds, a plan must also be put in place on how to recoup the funds spent.

Town Manager Tom Woodin pointed out that $20,000 was budgeted for each year for contractor services in helping with winter operations (moving and removing snow from sidewalks, roads, etc). He suggested that they reduce that amount by $10,000, as with the Toolcat, public works would be able to handle much of the work without assistance.

“That was one of the reasons we purchased the equipment,” Selectmen’s Vice Chairman Bill Hamblen said. “To save money in the long-term.”

“The equipment will pay for itself in about seven years,” Budget Committee Vice Chairman Mary Neal said. “How long can we expect it to last?”

Hamblen said the equipment should have a life expectancy of around 15 years before it would need to be replaced, which would save the town a total of around $80,000 in winter operations funds over a 15-year period.

The committee and selectmen agreed and the budget was adjusted accordingly.

“(The Bobcat) will make a huge difference in staying ahead of storms piling up in the future,” Woodin said.