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Put Brakes On County's Take-Home Cars

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 12, 2008

Pinellas County gives just nine employees a county car to drive. In Pasco County, just 10 supervisors drive county cars home, a number that will be cut later this year.

But extravagant Hillsborough County gives 26 people county cars to drive, guzzling gas and tax dollars at once.

Administrators claim the practice saves money. Otherwise, the county would have to reimburse people for the gas used to attend after-hour events.

But the Tribune's Mike Salinero found that wasn't true. A review of vehicle records showed the county paid more for gas and maintenance than it would have paid by reimbursing these executives at 37.5 cents a mile.

Add in the purchase price of the cars, which can run up to $50,000, and it's clear taxpayers are getting run over.

Salinero's review found most of the mileage was logged during daily commutes, suggesting the cars were not needed for after-hours work.

Some officials, to be sure, need a county car, especially those who respond to emergencies. Even by this standard, the county is overly indulgent.

Hillsborough Fire Chief Bill Nesmith put 15,221 miles on his county vehicle, some 13,680 of which came from commuting to his Indian Rocks Beach home. Nesmith recently started parking the car at a Town 'N Country fire station and driving the rest of the way home in his personal car, a good idea. The county cannot afford to pay for someone to commute from another county.

Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean promises to review the take-home policy.

Given these tight budget times, neither the county nor taxpayers can afford such largesse, especially when the expense is unjustified.

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