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Taxpayers fund $37,800 in fuel costs, SUVs for Dept. of Development, other agencies |
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Taxpayers fund $37,800 in fuel costs, SUVs for Dept. of Development, other agencies |
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November 6th, 2008 |
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 TAXPAYER-FUNDED SUVs, FUEL – County taxpayers foot the bill for various agencies to drive special utility vehicles and other vehicles. One local business owner asked of the Department of Development fleet, “why do they need an SUV to carry around a clipboard?” |
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JOEY DAUBEN
The Ellis County Press
WAXAHACHIE – Ellis County taxpayers fund numerous sport utility vehicles and full-size pickups for the Department of Development, the county/district attorneys office and the adult probation department.
One owner of a septic system supplier who does business with the Department of Development asked why the county needs SUVs to "carry around a clipboard."
The list of the projected fuel costs for three county departments was released by the county auditor’s office, as well as county budget information from the courthouse.
Department of Development Fuel Costs: $14,000
2006 Ford F150
1995 Jeep Cherokee
2005 Ford F150
2005 Ford F150
2005 Ford F150
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer
2006 Ford Ranger
District Attorney Fuel Costs: $6,000
1997 Ford Taurus
2003 Ford Taurus
2003 Ford Taurus
1999 Ford Taurus
Community Supervision and Corrections Department (Adult Probation) Fuel Costs: $17,800
2002 Ford Crown Victoria
2002 Ford Crown Victoria
2003 Ford E150 Cargo Van
2006 Jeep Liberty
2006 Jeep Liberty
2007 Chevrolet Alv PK
2008 Chevrolet Alv PK
* Fuel costs are projections for the 2008/2009 fiscal year and could be increased later in the budget cycle
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Article Comments:
November 6th, 2008
Richard Rodriguez
It appears that either readership is down at the Ellis County Press, or reporters are less interested in the facts than personal agendas and sensationalism. Regarding the November 6th story on County fuel costs and SUV's, citizens should know that the Community Supervision and Corrections Department is not an Ellis County agency or department...never has been. While the County does provide facilities, all other operating expenses are provided for by State funds and collection of supervision fees from the individuals the CSCD supervise. Those State funds comprise only about one-fourth of that operating budget, so we are effectively a self-funded department that cost the taxpayers of Ellis County very little, and in return, the CSCD provides a great number of services. Those SUV's are used not only to conduct field contacts on high risk offenders in our community, but are also used extensively to transport equipment and staff to various community service projects across the County. Were it not for the CSCD community service projects and the individuals on probation who work them, the County would either spend much more in labor costs for clean up projects and road crews, or these projects would just be left undone. For the little the taxpayers actually do spend on the CSCD for facilities, the return is tenfold; the CSCD collected nearly $1,000,000.00 last fiscal year in fines, court costs, court appointed attorney fees and restitution for victims of crime. Regarding the vehicles themselves, the SUV's identified in the photos are much more fuel efficient than the sedans they replaced, with some having four cylinder engines, and the others still getting at least 18-20 MPG. Rising fuel costs necessitated an increase in funds for fuel, however with the recent drop in gas prices it is highly unlikely those funds will be expended. While the facts may not be as glamorous or sell as many papers as what is printed instead, they nonetheless stand on their own.
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