San Benito County supervisors are on the right track in curtailing excessive vehicle allowances for department heads, but they should remain steadfast in requiring all of the top officials to follow their new policy and continue seeking other ways to cut such transportation costs.
Supervisors, in the latest move to reduce a $5.3 million shortfall this fiscal year, approved the reduction of department heads’ monthly car allowances from $500 to $350 – an amount meant to cover driving done on the job in personal vehicles. It is expected to save $18,000 annually.
The matter became a topic of debate when Public Works Administrator Steve Wittry complained during the board meeting because he said the new car allowance would not sufficiently cover his gas costs. Wittry told supervisors he looked into his habits and found has been driving 1,200 to 1,400 miles per month.
It is certainly understandable that some county employees and top officials’ positions demand driving on the job. But 1,200 to 1,400 miles raises an alarm bell as somewhat excessive – the direct cost and also Wittry’s time wasted on the road – particularly at a time when technology is allowing for more rapid, convenient communication.
Most important, these vehicle allowances are meant to cover costs for employees’ use of personal automobiles. As Wittry acknowledged to the board, he has access to county-owned vehicles to use for work business.
He said sometimes it makes more sense to leave for his home in a personal vehicle when he starts the day at a road construction site or meeting, and he travels to multiple roadwork sites and other infrastructure projects around the county.
Wittry clearly does have to drive for the job – and sometimes he has to drive a lot, especially considering he is the primary road maintenance manager for the county. But can he adjust his current routine and find a way to significantly cut his mileage? It appears he can. Can he find a way to ensure he has use, when he needs it, to one of the three available county cars in the public works department? Of course he can. He’s the boss.
Because Wittry does so much of the driving in the public works department, why not simply assign him one of the three department cars – or allow Wittry to authorize use of his assigned vehicle if he knows he won’t need it at certain times?
Supervisors are right to address the car allowances. They shouldn’t stop with last week’s cut, though. For the long term, officials would be wise to commission a survey of all department heads’ private vehicle use on county time. With it, they could determine how much of the driving is needed and set vehicle allowances – varying for individual department heads – which more accurately reflect the actual costs for the necessary driving by these officials.
