Editorial: Commuting practice must end

Councilman Robert Scattini may have been the wrong person to criticize the police department for allowing a captain to commute 90 miles round trip each day in a squad car on the city’s dime – because Scattini’s use of a county vehicle during his 22-year tenure as marshal allows defenders of the expense to cloud the debate – but he was right in pointing out the unfair perk.
In reality, it doesn’t matter who had the problem with Capt. Carlos Reynoso commuting each day in his police car. Scattini certainly wasn’t alone in being peeved by the perk. It is wrong and must stop immediately, because the thousands of dollars in additional cost to the city do not outweigh the argued benefit from Police Chief Jeff Miller – that he needs his two captains readily available for emergencies that might arise.
Miller pointed out that he considered Reynoso’s commute when he promoted him from sergeant to captain in 2009, and decided to allow him use of a police car on his commute. The city picks up the costs – which is the case with other employees driving government vehicles to their homes – for maintenance and gas.
Particularly in this time of necessary austerity, decision makers have to use common sense in concluding whether it is absolutely necessary for employees to drive city cars home. If it is not absolutely necessary and does not add a significant benefit to taxpayers in return for their investment, then no amount of commuting should be allowed. It is essentially an added perk for specific employees who are not earning the additional pay. Other city employees, in fact, should be offended by the free rides home, especially when the home is 45 miles away as in Reynoso’s case.
In his case, he already lives close to an hour from Hollister. What difference does it make if he has to take five minutes to stop at the police department to pick up a car? Plus, he chooses to live there and should not be further encouraged to reside outside the area – likely taking most of his spending with him – with such a nice perk.
City Manager Clint Quilter – initially unresponsive to Scattini’s requests to address the matter – acknowledged last week that the practice must end. We encourage him to follow up on that commitment and use his authority to bar Reynoso from driving home in a police car. The city’s job, after all, is to get the best bargain for taxpayers.
Is this the best bargain for taxpayers? It is unfortunate that the question must be asked. Adding a sting to the story is that Hollister, of course, has a workforce in which a majority of residents commute. They, better than most, understand the value one might get by having a company-owned vehicle for a long commute. Using IRS estimates of 50 cents per mile, Reynoso saves about $11,000 per year in driving costs, with the city and its commuter-heavy taxpayers losing the equivalent amount. With the captain’s salary ranging from $87,972 to $106,930, that $11,000 savings amounts to a nice chunk of his total salary.
While Quilter should end the practice immediately, the council would be wise to set policies for current and future employees who drive home in city vehicles. They should set a mile limit for the distance to affected employees’ homes, along with guidelines for defining absolutely necessary cases for commuting at the taxpayers’ expense.