(A) Boards of county commissioners, in the purchase of machinery, tools, trucks, and other equipment for use in constructing, maintaining, and repairing roads, may make such purchases upon the following terms: not less than one-fourth of the purchase price shall be paid in cash, and the remainder of the purchase price shall be paid in not more than five equal annual installments, except that if the board sells, as authorized by law, used vehicles, machinery, tools, or equipment owned by the county to the person or other entity from whom it is to make the purchase, the one-fourth cash down payment or any installments, or both, may be reduced by the amount of the selling price of the used vehicles, machinery, tools, or equipment. Each installment shall be not less than one-fifth of the balance due and shall be secured by a note which may contain a clause permitting prepayment at the option of the board. Such boards may issue the notes of the county signed by the board of county commissioners, attested by the signature of the county auditor, and covering such deferred payments and payable at the times above provided. Such notes may bear interest at not to exceed the rate determined as provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code, and are not subject to section 131.23 or 135.51 to 135.54 or to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. In the legislation under which such notes are authorized, the board of county commissioners shall make provision for levying and collecting annually, by taxation, an amount sufficient to pay the interest and provide a sinking fund for the final redemption of such notes at maturity.

Sections 5705.41 and 5705.44 of the Revised Code apply only to such portion of the purchase price of such machinery, tools, trucks, or equipment as is to be paid in cash, exclusive of any credit from the sale of used vehicles, machinery, tools, or equipment to the vendor.

(B) The boards of trustees of any two or more townships, or the legislative authorities of any two or more political subdivisions, or any combination thereof, may, through joint action, unite in the joint purchase, maintenance, use, and operation of machinery, tools, trucks, and equipment for use in constructing, maintaining, and repairing roads, and may prorate the expense on such terms as are mutually agreed upon, and any political subdivision may lease machinery, tools, trucks, and other equipment from any one or more other political subdivisions for use in constructing, maintaining, and repairing roads on such terms as are mutually agreed upon.

(C) Boards of county commissioners may also enter into leases which include an option to purchase machinery, tools, trucks, and other equipment for use in constructing, maintaining, and repairing roads. Any such contract to lease with an option to purchase shall require the board to pay at least three-twentieths of the total cost of the lease with an option to purchase in cash. If the board sells used equipment as part of any such contract, the three-twentieths cash down payment may be reduced by the amount of the selling price of the used equipment. Such leases with options to purchase shall be made from the lowest responsible bidder offering the equipment after advertisement as provided in section 5575.01 of the Revised Code. Such leases are not subject to the down payment and minimum annual installment requirements of division (A) of this section.

Effective Date: 09-20-1999 .