LOS ANGELES - The state is drawing criticism from taxpayer groups for buying California's top elected officials new hybrid cars while many ordinary residents still struggle financially.
The 20 cars recently purchased -- many of them 2015 Ford Fusion Hybrids -- are for use by state senators while they are in Sacramento, The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. Eight of the cars cost nearly $24,000 each, and they replace some fleet cars driven just 12,400 miles, the newspaper reported.
``The excesses and absurdities never seem to end with government,'' said Lew Uhler, president of the California-based National Tax Limitation Committee. ``Infuriation never ends with the way that they operate.''
The state's Department of General Services bought most of the cars over the last 18 months, totaling $540,000. They are leased to the Senate, and officials contend that swapping out older cars with more eco-friendly models is routine. Gov. Jerry Brown has instructed officials to increase clean-fuel cars and in 2012 required that at least 10 percent of the state's nonemergency vehicles be electric, the newspaper reported.
Brian Ferguson of the state's Department of General Services defended the purchases. He said the cars with low mileage are cycled back into the state's fleet for other agencies and remain in use.
``The majority of the vehicles that were rotated out were older-model full-size sedans that were replaced by newer hybrid vehicles as part of the continuing effort to green the state's vehicle fleet,'' Ferguson said.
Critics said the state bought many of the new cars shortly before 40 Senate staffers were laid off due to budget problems. Uhler, the taxpayer advocate, said lawmakers should drive less expensive cars, especially when Democratic lawmakers complain there isn't enough money to pay for some social service programs.
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said this comes as lawmakers consider asking Californians to pay more for road and freeway repairs.
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``This is the kind of thing that drives citizen taxpayers crazy,'' he said.
