More than 140 Howard County employees, from department heads to inspectors, drove take-home, county-owned vehicles last year ? some logging nearly 30,000 miles, according to records obtained by The Examiner.
County Executive Ken Ulman has directed staff to conduct a survey of take-home vehicle use with the intent to revise the county policy.
“It?s time for us to take a look atit,” Ulman said.
In the police department, 244 employees had take-home cars, and another 40 employees in the sheriff?s office had cars, according to records obtained by The Examiner.
Chief Administrative Officer Lonnie Robbins began looking into the usage a few months ago to review the policy, which was last updated in July 2002, Ulman said.
The County Council?s auditors also have begun an independent review of the policy, based on a council member?s concerns, said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1.
“Over time, has the program grown beyond the point of what is reasonable?” she asked.
The auditor was concerned about whether the county was correctly reporting the vehicle use, which is considered a taxable fringe benefit, for IRS regulations, Watson said.
Vehicle usage is taxed on an employee?s W2 tax forms, said Brian Skovira, a senior administrative analyst for the county.
Many county employees, such as inspectors and public works employees, spend much of their day driving, and it?s more efficient for them to have cars, Ulman said.
Under county policy, department directors decide who needs vehicles and requests them in the budget, but this may need to be centralized, he said.
Officials plan to “tighten up the oversight and make sure that is all consolidated under the [chief administrative officer],” said Ulman.
In the sheriff?s office, a few deputies racked up nearly 25,000 miles, mainly because they transport prisoners and sometimes travel for extraditions, said Sheriff James Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald?s 2007 mileage was 26,454, some of which he attributed to driving back and forth on the weekends to Ocean City, where his wife lives.
A couple months ago, Fitzgerald began driving his own 1998 Toyota to Ocean City, so his mileage this year will be lower, he said.
“Everyone was moaning about it. … I have drastically cut down now,” he said.
For police, take-home cars boost police visibility and provides an additional police resource on the streets, said Police Chief Bill McMahon.
Police logging higher mileage ? some about 35,000 ? are on special assignment, such as narcotics, where they are not limited by county borders, he said.
All department heads, except for finance, have the job perk of take-home cars, said county spokesman Kevin Enright.
IT Director Ira Levy and Housing Director Stacy Spann were given cars when they were appointed in December 2006, but their predecessors did not have vehicles.
Ulman did not review the policy at that time, because “in year one the executive addressed his priorities and issues that needed immediate attention,” Enright said.
AT A GLANCE
In 2007, 141 Howard County employees had take-home vehicles.
Joseph Gouldin, a fire department employee, logged 35,523 miles, the most among county employees.
Other high mileage employees include:
? Steven Parker, a public works employee, with 29,472
? James McNally, a pubic works employee, with 27,795
? Charles Gary Jones, a fire department employee whose vehicle was assigned to him as a battalion response vehicle and used by others, with 24,918.
? 244 police officers had vehicles, with the highest mileage being 40,349
? 40 sworn deputies and the sheriff had take-home vehicles.
? Sheriff James Fitzgerald logged 26,454 miles
Source: Howard County government, police department and sheriff?s office
