State Vehicle Fleet Being Reviewed for Cost Effectiveness

An internal review of Pennsylvania’s automobile fleet seeks to determine exactly how many vehicles the state owns, how essential those vehicles are and how much taxpayer money could be saved by eliminating some. 

Sheri Phillips, acting secretary of General Services, which manages the state vehicle fleet, said March 21 a thorough review of the fleet will be completed by the end of April. Under orders from Gov. Tom Corbett, the department is attempting to determine how much money could be saved by doing away with some state vehicles and limiting public employees’ access to others. 

“He’s given us 90 days to come up with our recommendations for how to reduce the vehicles in the fleet and also reduce the cost of operating vehicles,” said Phillips. “Based on what we’ve seen so far, I know we can reduce the cost.” 

Phillips said the department is examining vehicle assignment rules and whether a rental car system or personal reimbursement system would be more cost effective. She said the computer system used to track the state’s vehicles also is being overhauled. 

The state fleet was singled out by Corbett last fall during his campaign as one area of government that could be cut in order to reduce costs. With the state facing an anticipated $5 billion deficit next fiscal year, the potential savings were “one of the primary reasons” the department was auditing the fleet, Phillips said March 21. 

Phillips said the administration would be making managerial changes to the fleet with the goal of “definite, significant” savings, but she admitted the savings to be realized by the Commonwealth were still unknown. 

“I can’t give you numbers yet,” said Phillips. “One of the things we’re still doing is pulling together costs to come up with some of those estimates.” 

DGS is unsure of how many vehicles actually make up the state fleet, though the ongoing review should produce an answer. 

“We don’t have a definitive number, and we’re not supplying an answer for that until the review is completed,” said Troy Thompson, spokesperson for the department. 

According to a 2009 report from state Auditor General Jack Wagner, the state fleet included more than 16,600 vehicles operated by 51 different departments, boards and commissions. In the report, Wagner was sharply critical of the state’s oversight and management of the fleet. 

In particular, Wagner attacked DGS’ decentralized management system that allowed each government agency, board and commission to track its own vehicles. He said the lack of oversight from DGS led to “different guidelines on assignment of vehicles, shoddy record keeping, inadequate maintenance, unauthorized repairs and failure to fulfill General Services’ requests for information.” 

The department’s problems resulted in an irresponsible use of tax dollars, Wagner concluded, though he did not specify how much money could be saved by the implementing of reforms. 

Ivan Anderson, Wagner’s spokesperson, said Monday the auditor general stands by the conclusions made in the 2009 report though no update has been done by the office. 

Thompson said the figure provided by the auditor general in 2009 included construction vehicles and other DGS vehicles that are not part of the state-owned automobile pool. 

State Rep. Scott Perry, R-York, said many residents disagree with paying taxes to support an oversized vehicle fleet. 

State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, who has leased a state vehicle to commute between Harrisburg and his home district for five years, said he saves the state $225 each month by leasing the car instead of collecting expenses from his personal vehicle. 

“My concern is sometimes things that sound good, like getting rid of the fleet-lease program, actually ends up costing the Commonwealth more money,” said Costa. 

Phillips said leasing vehicles that are driven more than 800 miles per month is more cost effective than offering reimbursement for miles traveled in a personal vehicle, but the equation varies for a number of reasons. 

“We’re looking at policies regarding commuting, regarding who has vehicles and who has earned a vehicle because of their high-business usage,” said Phillips. “It’s a balancing act to look at how they're used and how we can supply them.”