ART - Uniforms - Renting vs. Purchasing 2011

The document discusses the comparison between renting and purchasing uniforms for public agencies. It highlights the need for cost-effective solutions in the current economy and the potential drawbacks of renting uniforms. The document explains that rental contracts often come with a five-year commitment and can be difficult and expensive to break. It also mentions that rental contracts may include multiple percentage price increases each year and additional ancillary charges, which can exceed uniform budgets. The document then compares the average flat rate garment costs for renting and purchasing uniforms and states that purchasing uniforms can result in cost savings of 57 percent per employee per year. It also mentions additional costs associated with rental programs, such as setup charges for new employees, oversize charges, fees for size changes, wastewater or special energy costs, and charges for lost or damaged garments. The document concludes by stating that purchasing uniforms can provide the highest value and use of taxpayer revenues, unless an employee's job function requires a rental uniform program due to heavy soil, grease, and oil exposure.