SGT. SHLITZ
06-19-2008, 11:43 AM
GARY, Ind. (AP) - City officials are considering whether to stop allowing city employees, including police officers, to take cars home in a cost-cutting move. But Mayor Rudy Clay isn't ready to give up his city-leased Hummer.
Clay compares his 2006 Hummer H3 to the 2003 Ford Expedition, now owned by the city, that was driven by former Mayor Scott King. Taxpayers spent more than $9,000 a year for the car, city records show. The city is leasing Clay's Hummer for $5,000 a year.
"It's a very economical car," Clay said
Government agencies list King's 2003 Ford Expedition's gas mileage as 12 miles per gallon in the city, 17 on the highway. The Hummer's gas mileage is rated as 14 in the city and 18 miles on the highway.
Clay, who said he does business while he is on the road, also has a paid driver.
"I have to have my hands free," Clay said. "I do a lot of work while I'm in the car."
Several of Gary's city department heads also use take-home cars, according to city records, but Clay said police and fire cars are the only ones, beside his own, that should be fueled by the city's pumps.
Clay on Monday overturned an order from Police Chief Lawrence Wright that would have parked all officers' take-home cars at the Gary police station.
Clay said he was considering the elimination of take-home cars for city employees and that the transition must be more "methodical" and "organized" than the one Wright proposed.
According to city records, nearly 250 take-home cars are assigned to city employees. Clay said the city government is spending $30,000 a week on gas.
"We can't continue that," he said.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a114/sgt_shlitz/clay.jpg
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2cf56ff3-0187-498f-a924-b146ad290d98
Clay compares his 2006 Hummer H3 to the 2003 Ford Expedition, now owned by the city, that was driven by former Mayor Scott King. Taxpayers spent more than $9,000 a year for the car, city records show. The city is leasing Clay's Hummer for $5,000 a year.
"It's a very economical car," Clay said
Government agencies list King's 2003 Ford Expedition's gas mileage as 12 miles per gallon in the city, 17 on the highway. The Hummer's gas mileage is rated as 14 in the city and 18 miles on the highway.
Clay, who said he does business while he is on the road, also has a paid driver.
"I have to have my hands free," Clay said. "I do a lot of work while I'm in the car."
Several of Gary's city department heads also use take-home cars, according to city records, but Clay said police and fire cars are the only ones, beside his own, that should be fueled by the city's pumps.
Clay on Monday overturned an order from Police Chief Lawrence Wright that would have parked all officers' take-home cars at the Gary police station.
Clay said he was considering the elimination of take-home cars for city employees and that the transition must be more "methodical" and "organized" than the one Wright proposed.
According to city records, nearly 250 take-home cars are assigned to city employees. Clay said the city government is spending $30,000 a week on gas.
"We can't continue that," he said.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a114/sgt_shlitz/clay.jpg
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2cf56ff3-0187-498f-a924-b146ad290d98