Because we have done just fine without these tools for 6 years, this means they are not going to be considered necessities. I am currently putting together a funding proposal that will include these with a lot of other tools that ARE necessities. But this means that these will be the first things cut from the list if the request is too big.
This is just a number pulled from a hat, but let's say that $15k to $20k needs to buy a mill, a lathe, and all associated tooling and fixtures.
Just for a reference point, in my last shop (same type business) I had a
Cubic 16x40 gap bed lathe and a
Chevalier 9x48 knee mill with 2-axis DRO.
I was not involved in the purchasing of those items.