Use Of Public Vehicles Troubles Washington County Panel

FAYETTEVILLE -- More than one-fourth of Washington County's roughly 570 employees drive a county-owned vehicle to and from work for a dollar or less per day, prompting concerns Monday among the Quorum Court.

County vehicles have become a hot topic during the ongoing discussions about next year's budget, thanks to requests from the Sheriff's Office, Road Department and other county departments for more than $1 million for new vehicles. The requests generally are to replace outdated or worn out models, department heads have said.

Meeting Information

Washington County Quorum Court

2015 Budget Process

When: 5:30 p.m. Today

Where: Quorum Courtroom of the County Courthouse, 280 N. College Ave., Fayetteville

On the agenda: 2015 employee salaries and budget requests for the county libraries, Quorum Court and other departments.

Monday's Public Works Committee meeting technically wasn't part of 2015 budget discussions, but county-owned cars and trucks were the main topic of discussion largely because of those requests.

"Obviously we're paying a lot for vehicles," Eva Madison of Fayetteville, committee chairwoman, said during the meeting. "I've been surprised at some of the people we've been providing vehicles to."

The county owns 265 vehicles, Madison said, with almost 70 percent of them used by the sheriff and Road Department for patrols and other daily work. The justices of the peace were troubled to learn 164 employees can and often do use their vehicles to get to and from work as well -- again, mostly deputies and Road Department workers.

Employees can't use the vehicles for personal use outside the commute, said Cheryl Bolinger, county comptroller, and it comes with a price tag. The use is a fringe benefit that's valued at $1.50 per one-way trip. Employees aren't paid this money directly, Bolinger said, but they do pay taxes on it. Two trips a day might cost them about 75 cents, based on an income tax rate around 25 percent, or about $200 a year.

Still, that cost might be a bargain for employees when compared with fueling and maintaining their own cars, several justices of the peace said.

"My Lord, what a benefit," said Rex Bailey, a Springdale Republican who is typically eager to cut spending. "It's a good gig if you can get it, I guess."

Barbara Fitzpatrick, a Democrat from Fayetteville, said she wasn't sure the county was losing money on the policy. An employee can get reimbursed 56 cents per mile if she uses her own car for work, Fitzpatrick said.

"I'm looking at this list and I think, if we find any savings, it's going to be minimal," she said.

Fellow Democrat Candy Clark and others suggested a centralized pool of at least some of the county's vehicles. Employees can drive on their own dime to the office and use a public truck for the workday, she said.

This system might not be feasible for patrolling deputies or road grader drivers, the justices of the peace conceded. Shawn Shrum, road superintendent, said his employees' practical workdays are shortened considerably if they need to drive their equipment to the same location at the beginning and end of every day, for example.

Madison said she wanted department heads to provide that kind of reasoning for all of their vehicles, echoing others.

"What we're looking to find is the justification for it," said Rick Cochran, a Fayetteville Republican.

NW News on 09/30/2014

Upcoming Events