County Auction Raises More Than $255,000

They came, they bid and they went home with some good deals, says the auctioneer who handled last weekend's public auction of government and school district surplus equipment.

The auction drew about 500 people, 308 of whom registered as bidders.

Some of the deals: $750 for a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria with 110,786 miles; $12,500 for a dump truck; $20,000 for a John Deere wheel loader; $650 for a palette of equipment that included a radar gun and radio.

Of the 400 items up for bid, all but five items sold, said Arlis Atkinson, the owner-auctioneer for Atkinson Realty & Auction Inc.

Given the economy, Atkinson said he is pleased with the results. He did notice there were more credit card payments than past auctions, a sign perhaps that times are tougher.

The auction raised $148,110 for the county, $15,000 for the city of Brooksville, $75,000 for the Southwest Florida Water Management District and $17,495 for the school district.

The money raised now goes back into the general fund budgets of the county, enterprise fund and school board departments' budgets after the auction company deducts its 5.89 percent of every item sold.

There was the usual assortment of appliances, computers, office furniture and equipment.

The rolling stock included cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles that had reached the end of their vehicle life and were scheduled to be replaced.

Atkinson said there was one bidder from Canada, one from Tennessee and the rest from the area.

County Purchasing Director James Gantt said there were 30,000 hits on the Atkinson Web site, which displayed all the auction items prior to Saturday's event.

The county holds two surplus auctions each year. The next one is scheduled for sometime next spring.