Going, Going, Gone: Surplus Items Up For Auction

In the market for a 2003 Ford F-150 4X2 pickup with 60,123 miles?

Need a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria with 110,786 miles?

How about a John Deere tractor?

All this and more will be up for bid at the public auction this Saturday in Brooksville.

Twice a year, the county, school board, Southwest Florida Water Management District and city of Brooksville auction off their surplus equipment.

And it's not just rolling stock.

The auction has a generous supply of appliances and other items including washers and dryers, refrigerators, auto parts, farm equipment, desktop computers, fax equipment, office furniture, mowers and even a radar gun.

County Purchasing Director James Gantt said the downturn in the economy has contributed to more vehicles being auctioned off because they're not needed in the fleet.

And with fewer employees due to layoffs and positions going unfilled, there is less need of some office equipment.

For a vehicle to go on the auction block, it must meet two of three criteria: It's too old (generally 6 to 7 years for a pickup); it has exceeded recommended mileage (close to 100,000 miles); the percent of repairs to cost has been exceeded (normally 50 percent).

For example, if repairs to a $50,000 dump truck exceed $25,000, it meets the repairs parameter.

The auctioneer, Atkinson Realty & Auction Inc., receives 5.89 percent of every item. So if a piece of equipment sells for $100, Atkinson gets $5.89.

The rest of the money goes into the respective department's general fund budget. If the item came from an enterprise fund, it goes back to that fund.

Auctioneer Mark Atkinson said there is no minimum starting bid. However, each government agency has the right to refuse final bids.

Atkinson said there is a good cross section of items this time around. Generally, the auction attracts a large local crowd and a fair number of out-of-towners, he said.

The public is invited to inspect the auction items from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at 1037 Varsity Drive, north on U.S. 41, near the school board office.

The auction starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the same location.

To view the items online, visit wwwAtkinsonOnline.com.