Brown Takes Away Free Ride

The latest budget ax from the governor's office came in a release Friday that announced he has ordered the state's car fleet to be cut in half.

Brown directed all state agencies to immediately halt purchases of new vehicles and to turn in taxpayer-funded cars that aren't essential to state business.

This will hit about 4,500 workers who drive state vehicles home at night especially hard. Unless they can prove the vehicle is "essential" to public health and safety, they are going to lose it. The cuts following an earlier Executive Order that took away 48,000 government-paid cell phones.

"There is a lot of wasteful spending on cars that aren’t even driven," Brown said in a statement. Adding, "We can’t afford to spend taxpayer money on new cars while California faces such a massive deficit."

Brown will lay out more specific details on how he will address the state's massive $25 billion deficit next Monday night. He has scheduled a State of the State address at 5 p.m.

The following is the governor's official order:

IT IS ORDERED that each agency secretary and department director immediately review their organization’s vehicle home-storage permits and withdraw those that are non-essential or cost ineffective.  By March 1, 2011, each agency secretary and department director shall report their findings and the results of their review.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that by February 15, 2011, each state agency and department shall update and certify their vehicle and mobile equipment information that is presently being collected by the Department of General Services, and shall thereafter provide monthly updates to the Department of General Services.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each state agency and department shall conduct an analysis to determine the purpose of, the necessity for, and the cost-effectiveness of, the vehicles and equipment in their fleet.  This analysis shall result in a plan to relinquish non-essential and cost-inefficient vehicles and equipment.  The Department of General Services shall assist departments in developing their analysis and plans.

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each state agency and department shall submit for approval their analysis and plan to the Director of the Department of General Services and the Department of Finance.  A schedule for submitting these analysis and plans shall be set by the Director of General Services and shall commence no later than March 1, 2011.

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that state agencies and departments shall relinquish non-essential or cost-inefficient vehicles and equipment within 120 days when their analysis and plans are approved by the Department of General Services. The Department of General Services shall assist departments in relinquishing non-essential and cost-inefficient vehicles and equipment.  Vehicles and equipment should be relinquished by selling them in a manner to maximize returns or by transferring them to other departments where there is a demonstrated need.

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Department of General Services shall provide to the Department of Finance final tallies of the relinquished vehicles.  Each department or agency shall provide to the Department of Finance the amount of fiscal savings for the relinquished vehicles.  The Department of Finance shall evaluate the total savings achieved and adjust departmental budgets to reflect those savings as appropriate.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that state agencies and departments are prohibited from purchasing any vehicles for non-emergency use except when:

The agency or department has fully relinquished its vehicles and equipment pursuant to its analysis and plan approved by Department of General Services;

The purchase is necessary to protect the health and safety or security of the public;

The purchase is necessary to provide critical services and functions; or

The purchase will result in significant cost savings.

The Director of the Department of General Services must approve all such purchases, subject to the review of the Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency.

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Executive Order shall supersede EO S-14-09 dated July 17, 2009.

IT IS REQUESTED that other entities of State government not under my direct executive authority conduct an analysis to determine the purpose of, the necessity for, and the cost-effectiveness of their vehicles and equipment in order to reduce additional waste and unnecessary costs. 

 This Executive Order is not intended to create, and does not create, any rights or benefits, whether substantive or procedural, or enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California or its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order shall be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State and that it be given widespread publicity and notice.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 27th day of January 2011.

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