Governor Rell: State Cuts Fleet By 20 Percent,

Streamlining Motor Pools for Additional Savings

Fleet reduced by more than 820 cars since January

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced the state reduced its fleet of cars and trucks by more than 20 percent over the past five months, saving more than $1 million and exceeding the goal she set through an Executive Order issued this past February.

            “We saved money by taking hundreds of state vehicles off the road and plan to remove even more over the coming months,” Governor Rell. “I will continue to do everything in my authority to trim the cost and size of state government. The fiscal reality is that we do not need all these vehicles and are finding more efficient ways to conduct the state’s business.”

Executive Order No. 22 gave the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) final authority over buying and maintaining all state vehicles except the specialized vehicles needed by the Department of Transportation. The former, decentralized system of allowing agencies to have their own fleets resulted in inefficiency, waste and inappropriate use of cars, the Governor said.

The Governor’s order imposes stricter rules on when and why state employees can use a state-owned vehicle, taking cars away from most state agency commissioners and employees who drive recklessly or speed.

Since January 1, 2009, the DAS fleet (not including law enforcement vehicles), totaled 4,082. DAS officials said by the end of July, the number of cars and trucks was down to 3,244. Since January, DAS has auctioned 693 vehicles, including state highway trucks and plows, generating $1.5 million from the sales. DAS plans to auction off nearly 380 more vehicles by the end of the year. The auctioned vehicles were those with high mileage or not fuel efficient. Lower mileage, more efficient vehicles taken from agencies will be used as replacements.

            Governor Rell said because there are now fewer vehicles, the DAS is developing a plan to place multi-agency motor pools in strategic geographic locations throughout the state. The Governor said the pools will provide vehicles on a daily basis for agencies when a car is needed and done in a manner that is most convenient and cost effective. That plan is expected to be in place by October 1, 2009.

            The Governor’s order also required DAS to take a range of other steps to economize and reduce the costs of state vehicle operations, including:

• Any car or light truck purchased by DAS after January 1 must be classified by the U.S. EPA as “best in its class” for gasoline mileage unless DAS determines the vehicle is not available or is too expensive;
• After March 1, DAS is approving an agency vehicle request only after determining it would be less expensive than reimbursing the official or employee for mileage on his or her personal vehicle or determining that there was special equipment or risk management needs that justified a car.

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