State Spent Millions on Vehicles That Sit Unused. The Sacramento Bee reported October 26 that two of the state's largest departments spent more than $5.5 million on new cars and trucks this year, then left them parked for months. "One department still has pickup and larger trucks parked in its yard that it bought during 2006, 2007 and 2008," the paper reported. "The vehicles are awaiting final assembly and are undeployed."
The paper reported: "The departments bought more vehicles as lawmakers slashed state spending, cut state worker pay and eliminated key public services after tax revenue plunged and they needed to balance the budget. The Department of General Services spent $1.2 million on 50 new hybrid Toyota Prius sedans in February, with state agencies committed to buying only 13 of them, state purchasing records show. The Bee found and photographed the cars on the top floor of the state garage near the Capitol, where they were parked for months. All were moved after The Bee asked about them."
That wasn't all that moved after the newspaper started probing around. On October 28, the paper reported that a top Department of General Services manager resigned and a Department of Transportation employee was reassigned over their involvement in the mismanagement of state vehicles.
The hybrids are being converted for use in a California Energy Commission pilot project for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles – a process that will cost taxpayers an additional $612,500, according to the report.
In its investigation, The Bee found that CalTrans has spent $4.3 million since February to buy new trucks and dump-truck bodies, including a $1.7 million flurry of orders June 30 – the last day of the state's fiscal year. Still, a reporter who visited three different Caltrans depot yards saw more than 100 undeployed heavy-, medium- and light-duty trucks sitting behind fences. "State records show dozens of them have been parked there for months – with delivery dates ranging from January to July – awaiting outfitting with such components as toolboxes and snowblowers before they can be put into action," The Bee said. "A handful have been parked there, unused, for years." (Source: The Sacramento Bee, October 26 and October 28.)
Cal-Taxletter, October 30, 2009
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