Reducing Take-Home Vehicles
"41 percent is a number we are pleased with, and we will continue to review other ways to save money," Mayor Byron Brown explained. With a decrease in take-home vehicles the money spent on gasoline for these vehicles is also expected to decrease by 41 percent, which was $231,985 in fiscal year 2007-2008.
Some city workers will be notified today that their take-home vehicle is now only available for use during the work day. This means they will have to drive their personal vehicles to and from work. "Additionally," Brown stated, "the vehicles will not be permitted to leave city limits unless pre-approved for conferences and meetings in which traveling by car would be cheaper than flying." There is no definite punishment defined for misusing work vehicles, but Brown stated there would be some type of "penalty, suspension, or termination" involved for violators of the new policy.
In the past, take-home vehicles operated on an honor system, in which vehicles were assumed to be only used when driving to and from work, or used to attend work-related functions. In accordance with the new take-home vehicle policy, "Any vehicle that is still available for take-home use will be monitored by spot checking and weekly reports provided by the City's Fuel Master tracking system that shows who puts fuel into a vehicle, how much fuel is put into a vehicle and at what time," Brown said.
When Brown asked about his personal take-home vehicle he said, "I need to be available to citizens around the clock, making it not possible for me to get rid of my car." The mayor's vehicle is considered a police vehicle, making it one of the 30 take-home police vehicles available aside from the reduction.
Immediately following the announcement, questions were posed concerning Brown's driver. Brown answered by stating "I don't have a driver. I have a police officer accompany me when I attend public events, and he generally only drives me to public events."
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al-alo
"'Additionally,' Brown stated, 'the vehicles will not be permitted to leave city limits unless pre-approved for conferences and meetings in which traveling by car would be cheaper than flying.' "
how about making them take a train (or gawd forbid - the bus!) to say Albany or even NYC (my guess the 2 top destinations)? do we really need to fly them? those last minute airfares aint cheap.
and how about unassigned cars in a city pool? take on a as needed basis. no need to insure and maintain a vehicle per person.
"When Brown asked about his personal take-home vehicle he said, 'I need to be available to citizens around the clock, making it not possible for me to get rid of my car.' The mayor's vehicle is considered a police vehicle, making it one of the 30 take-home police vehicles available aside from the reduction."
the mayor is probably right. however, leading by example doesnt hurt too much. im sure the mayor has his own car - at least while his son isnt borrowing it. and it would be a great good faith gesture to eliminate a city expense.
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sbrof
agree with al-alo here, there is no reason for the salary that we pay the mayor that it is unreasonable for him to use his won vehicle to get to and from work and to events. How about we pay him the same measly gas allowance that city building inspectors are paid.. We assume and mandate they they all have and use their personal vehicles for work.. why shouldn't he? He does make a hell of a lot more money than they do.
Typical politician.
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leadi
Doesn't the Erie County Exec. Chris Collins use his own car for work every day? And he only takes $1.00 in salary? So if he can give up a car at taxpayer expanse with no real salary, why can't the mayor? And why do we need to pay a police officer to drive the mayor around? Does the mayor not know how to drive? Why does he even need police protection? Is the papparazzi chasing him?
Regardless - is is good that FINALLY the City has decided to cut expenses. They should keep going with the plan to save money and make more financially sound cuts like cutting back on office supplies, electricity use, gas use, recycling, reusing, cut down on paper mailings, etc. Maybe they should make the City website more efficient. Currently if you try to pay a bill online through the website there is a service charge of $2 or $3. You would think that it should be less expensive to make a payment on line. They are forcing people to mail in payments using paper.
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buffaloweiner
well frankly im suprised that Brown had the courage to put forward even this cost savings measure since he is such a political wonker for unions and such
Its true buffalo needs to save money because its getting killed from all sides: unfunded mandates from albany, union demands, etc.
The question is can Brown cut the city and redirect the money toward investment in the city. One only needs to drive within the city limits to reallize that the entire city needs new lighting, sidewalks, trees, curbs, sewars, water mains and a choice between cobblestone, brick or paved streets.
(I only put cobblestone and brick as an option that residents should pursue for two major reasons. The first is that they increase property values by adding character and historical elements to the community. The second as anyone who has ever driven down such a road....you cant drive faster than 30mph without ruining your car/truck/SUV which for anyone living in the city experiencing racing cars and skreatching tires down sidestreets nows all to well...this would make streets safer while increasing property values.)
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Bufago
Collins drives his own car, why is the Mayor being chauffeured all over the City? The Mayor needs to lead by example, And he sure as hell shouldn't be using tax payer supplied vehicles and gas to attend fundraisers. He should be taking the subway like Mayor Bloomberg does!
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GDC
Even the current mayor of NYC takes the SUBWAY to work everyday. Come on Byron. lead by example.
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Downtownjunkie
Yea doesnt the mayor live rite on the subway line like wow byron do u really need a driver and car????
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leadi
Anyone see the mayor on the news today? When asked why he needs a police officer as a driver and must have a City take home, vehicle he completely deflected the question and said that Councilman Kearns was using this topic as some sort of political agenda. Lame answer.
If Chris Collins can drive his own car to and from work and never needs a driver, nor does Mayor Bloomberg of NYC (who is a billionaire) then why does our Mayor of buffalo (a City with a control Board in place) need one?
Again - why does he need police protection? Last summer while the Mayor and I were at the same block party, I did not see crowds of people rush in his direction. His answer on the news today included that mayors previous to him all had City cars and drivers/police protection. Um... times have changed your Honour.....gas is over $4.25 a gallon, police overtime is expensive, we have less officers now then we did back then and we have a control board in place.
How about set a good example for the residents of the City and drive yourself or take public transportation? It might inspire you to put shelters at every bus stop to protect people form the elements or have a better pickup schedule for the buses.
Maybe you could try it for just a week?
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becker
The Police Union was the first to file a lawsuit based on this ruling. Several senior police officials feel that they are entitled to a car even though they are rarely used for responding to police incidents and emergencies, instead they are used to drive officials from home to office. I am glad that we are no longer subsidizing city owned personal vehicles. Now we just need the Good Mayor to give up his.
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