Officials in Montgomery County, Md., are questioning the take-home rides of government employees after a report that taxpayers are funding almost 300 of them, including vehicles costing as much as $48,000, The Washington Examiner reported.
A joint study released by officials in County Executive Ike Leggett's administration found a 41 percent increase to 297 vehicles in the past three years. Leggett himself has two such vehicles.
There's the $47,698 Chevrolet Suburban driven by a part-time security guard that Leggett uses for official county business, and there's also the $38,665 Jeep Cherokee Leggett uses when he drives himself.
Another 33 seasonal and 19 heavy-duty vehicles, as well as take-home cars for police and sheriff's officers, makes a total of 379 bought for a total of about $676 million -- an average of $19,400 per, The Examiner reported. Four assistant fire chiefs received 2003 Ford Expeditions with price tags of $48,000.
"Right now, we have questions, not answers," said County Councilman Hans Riemer, D-at large, who asked for the study. "I'm concerned whether people are taking home vehicles at night who should not be and whether the county is being reimbursed for personal use.
"I find it hard to see why the county needs to pay for any SUVs. Those are expensive cars that get terrible mileage," he added.
A council panel will review the report Tuesday, The Examiner reported.
