The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be getting nine new patrol cars for the new year, despite concerns about the vehicles’ $150,000 cost as the county grapples with a $1.8 million budget hole.

County commissioners say they will approve buying the new Dodge Intrepids during their meeting Monday, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Jere McElhaney, commission chairman, investigated the possibility of putting off the purchases by extending the department’s mileage standards. The department usually trades in vehicles when they reach 100,000 miles; McElhaney wanted to consider extending that to 150,000 miles.

But commissioners agreed that forgoing this year’s purchases could threaten public safety. They don’t want to risk a car breaking down, especially with the department already stretched to the limit by a growing rural population; the department is running patrols at the same level as 20 years ago.

Also during Monday’s meeting, commissioners are scheduled to approve a license for beer sales at the Midland Farm Store, 1401 N. 1941 Diagonal Road.