A State of New York surplus property program regularly uses auctions to dispose of forklifts, along with unneeded pickups, salt trucks and other highway vehicles and equipment.

Buyers include state agencies, municipalities and members of the general public including businesses.

In a 29 August auction in Pittsford, for example, the program of the state's office of general services sold 27 vehicles, including two forklifts. A four-cylinder 1990 Wiggins model W1564 forklift sold for USD8,500 and a battery-powered 1976 Crown model W2T110 forklift for USD950.

The entire auction in Pittsford generated proceeds of USD131,303.

The general services office administers and is responsible for the property disposal for all agencies statewide of all appropriate surplus personal property that the state deems no longer useful. The state initially offers surplus property to other state agencies and then local municipalities for their reuse before being sold to the public, either through the Internet consumer-to-consumer corporation eBay Inc or at a public auction.

The program at various locations throughout the state plans to hold two auctions in September, 14 in October, seven in November and three in December.