The Auburn Police Department says it needs some new wheels and city officials will decide this week whether to grant the request.

The department is requesting authorization to lease five unmarked police cars and replace older vehicles that have received significant wear and tear. According to the proposal, the department would lease the vehicles for a total of $23,000 per year for three years, after which it would own the cars.

Auburn City Council will vote on a resolution to allow the transaction Thursday at its weekly business meeting. The meeting will also include at the beginning a general session for the public to be heard on any topic.

The new cars would replace vehicles that have between 57,000 and 88,000 miles on them and that are in overall poor condition, according to the department.

Police Chief Gary Giannotta said Monday that the police department's vehicles are usually either passed on to other departments or sold at auction after they are replaced.

The five vehicles that need to be replaced have recently received maintenance on fuel lines, brake lines, mufflers and struts, and some of them also have had substantial rust on the undercarriage, according to the department.

“We're putting money into (these cars) constantly,” Giannotta said. “It's just not cost effective to keep them anymore.”

The city budget allotted $40,000 to the department for the lease and eventual purchase of 10 new cars this year. But Giannotta said the APD is only requesting half of that money in light of recent economic conditions.

Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said the city plans to eventually replace all 10 vehicles. But doing so over the course of a few years, and while utilizing state contract bids, would be the “best deal” for the city, he said.

“The mayor and city council are constantly pleading with us to find ways to save money,” Palesh said. “This will make the money go a lot further.”

If you go:

What: Auburn City Council

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Memorial City Hall, 24 South St., Auburn