For Immediate Release
January 28, 2009
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Report Proves Need for Reform
By Senator Mike Folmer

Auditor General Jack Wagner recently released a report on the Department of General Services' (DGS) management of the state's 16,637 fleet vehicles, which details the current system's lack of accountability to Pennsylvania taxpayers. According to the report, "DGS did not have mileage totals for all employees, much less a breakdown in miles driven for official use versus personal use." The report also indicated that DGS could not provide "sufficient, appropriate, and verifiable audit evidence to show how state cars were assigned and used." Perhaps the most staggering finding in the report is the fact that the lack of central management of the state fleet costs taxpayers approximately $72 million a year!  

This scathing report demonstrates an appalling disregard for taxpayers. More importantly, it proves the need for reform and transparency in the management of state vehicles.  Clearly, the time is right to enact my Senate Bill 104 (formerly Senate Bill 1499 of the 2007-2008 Session), which would put common-sense restrictions on the use of state vehicles and establish a much more transparent reporting system.  Specifically, the bill would require state employees assigned the use of a state vehicle to drive 1,200 miles or more per month on official business (excluding travel to and from work); require employees using a state vehicle to maintain a monthly mileage log and have logs posted online with employee and vehicle information; require employees assigned a state vehicle to reimburse the Commonwealth for insurance and gasoline for personal use; and require assigned vehicles to bear an "official use" license plate, unless the employee performs undercover law enforcement duties.

Given the Auditor General's report, we need to look for ways to strengthen my bill so we can establish strong leadership in the way state vehicles are managed, establish more accountability, and better protect taxpayers' interests and dollars.  Inaction simply cannot be tolerated.

Auditor General vehicle report
Letters to state Inspector General Donald Patterson and DGS Secretary James Creedon