AUSTIN, Texas — Eanes ISD is set to purchase nine new Teslas for its police force.
Eanes ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Arnett announced the move in a Friday post on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter. He said of the two qualifying offers the district received, Tesla's provided the best value to taxpayers. He clarified that the new vehicles will not be luxury models.
"There were 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 in the post.
Arnett's post was in response to reaction from some parents who expressed concern over the potential high costs of the new electric vehicles. Arnett said in his post that the Teslas would cost taxpayers less than typical police units.
The new vehicles will cost taxpayers in Eanes ISD about $42,000 each. At a meeting on Oct. 3, the district board voted unanimously to purchase the vehicles.
The district will spend just under $450,000 on nine Model Y SUVs and then get a federal rebate. School leaders say it's worth it to be able to respond to emergencies quickly.
"I want to make sure that we are protecting our students every way we possibly can, and so if that's an extra $41,000, $42,000 to give them a vehicle that we've already budgeted for, that is not taking away from teacher pay, I think we need to do it," said Heather Sheffield, secretary of Eanes ISD board of trustees.
The new vehicles are expected to be available within the next two months.