Published: June 18, 2008 11:59 am      

Commissioners inching toward halting take-home vehicle practice

CUMBERLAND - Acting County Administrator David Eberly on Tuesday recommended the Allegany County commissioners halt the practice of allowing employees to commute to home and back in county-owned vehicles if they reside outside the county.

That move would affect eight workers - and save about $18,730 each year - while other moves, including partial reimbursement for vehicle usage or a "commuting fee," could impact the remaining 47 employees currently assigned take-home vehicles.

Right now, 55 employees travel nearly 1,190 miles to and from work each day, or 309,400 miles a year. At $4 a gallon for gas "and promising to go higher," Eberly said, that amounts to nearly $80,000 in fuel costs over a 12-month period, or about 10 percent of next year's total fuel budget.

Additional cuts of 10 take-home vehicles by Sept. 1 could save another $10,500.

At the July 8 meeting, the commissioners also will consider other recommendations, proposed by a committee comprised of Eberly, Human Resources Director Brian Westfall and Director of Finance Jerry Frantz, which would freeze the number of take-home vehicles in every department. Exceptions, then, would be made on an individual basis and approved only by the commissioners.

Eberly suggested the commissioners act no earlier than the July 8 meeting because that is the next meeting all three members will be present. That also gives the public, and employees, time to respond to the proposals, Eberly said.

"Obviously we need to do something," said Commissioner Jim Stakem. "I've already made up my mind. We want to make it very clear that should not occur," referring to the out-of-county commutes.

Commissioner Bob Hutcheson said he wasn't aware the county had 55 take-home vehicles and noted he has never held a position "paying my way to work." The vehicle assigned to him by the county, Eberly said after the meeting, is not considered a take-home vehicle and is used by other county employees.

A second proposal would require workers to reimburse the county of a portion of the costs associated with taking the vehicle home. The employee assigned a take-home vehicle would not be required, then, to drive the county-owned vehicle to and from work. Otherwise, they could see a monthly payroll deduction on their pay stubs.

The committee also suggested each department head and Sheriff David Goad prepare a comprehensive vehicle management plan, which could limit take-home vehicles to personnel designated "on-call," limit take-home vehicles to seasonal uses and establish a vehicle pool to be used by each department.

Eberly noted some governments and organizations, including the Allegany County Board of Education, have found it cost-effective to rent a car to travel to conferences or training seminars rather than pay mileage and maintenance on their own vehicle.

"That vehicle, whether you use it or not, costs money just to sit there," Frantz said.

"If you're going to do that, why have the vehicles?" said Commissioner Dale Lewis.

Exactly, Frantz and Eberly said. The overall goal would be to reduce the inventory of county-owned vehicles sooner rather than later.

Another cost-saving measure being instituted by some governments across the country is converting workers to a four-day work week. Eberly said the idea has been mentioned but "at this point in time, we're still in the discussion stages" of such an idea.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.