Would you buy a used car from this governor?
No matter. Gov. Martin O?Malley didn?t really want anyone to buy all 10 of the state cars parked on State Circle with signs saying, “Priced to Move,” “For Sale” and “Must Go.”
He just wanted folks to buy that one of the ways he was going to cut state spending was by reducing the state fleet of 9,000 vehicles, which cost $55 million to own and operate each year.
First on the chopping block are half of the 24 cars assigned to the governor?s staff. Nine staff members also will lose their privilege to take home vehicles.
That includes the two Ford Crown Victorias on loan from the Maryland Transportation Authority that Gov. Robert Ehrlich?s top communications aides had used.
“We don?t pretend for a moment that cuts in the governor?s office are going to make up the structural deficit,” O?Malley told reporters. “What we?re trying to do is lead by example. So we do expect every department to reduce” their numbers of vehicles, as well.
“I don?t believe every agency will be able to reduce their fleet,” he said. “This is just one of the steps you?ll be seeing in the days and weeks to come.”
