State says it has reduced vehicle fleet by hundreds

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The state has reduced the number of vehicles it owns by about 8 percent during the past two years, the state Office of Administration said Monday.

Since January 2002, the state has decreased its fleet by 960 licensed vehicles to a total of 10,983, officials said.

State vehicles are used for job-related travel such as social worker visits, nursing home inspections and the transportation of prisoners, among other things.

State Auditor Claire McCaskill in 2001 recommended a statewide policy for vehicle management with requirements on minimum mileage use, vehicle replacement, preventive maintenance and justification for assigning vehicles to individuals.

Gov. Bob Holden ordered a 10 percent reduction in the state's passenger vehicle fleet, said Mark S. Kaiser, director of general services for the Office of Administration. Although the office does not have a breakdown for the number of passenger vehicles within the total figure, Kaiser said the office believes the state has met that goal.

Commissioner of Administration Jacquelyn White said the state also has a new computerized fleet management system to better control vehicle purchases and repairs.