Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra yesterday announced he was getting rid of dozens of cars that city employees take home and cut the number from 73 to 45.
Today the city released a list of which employees get to keep their cars and which will have to rely on personal vehicles from now on.
The general government will now have nine city-issued cars, the police department will have 32 and the fire department will have four.
Emergency services and telecommunications will no longer have city vehicles at all, according to the list.
"It is my belief that we reduced the fleet and take home vehicles, but given our financial position and Council's position on the matter, I feel it necessary to conduct further reductions in the number of vehicles allotted for take home use in order to acknowledge the City's needs for efficiency, economy, and the reduction of liabilities," Segarra said in a statement.
Segarra said most of the city workers who drove city cars home nearly every day will now have to use their personal vehicles and it will save taxpayers thousands of dollars.
City councilman Ken Kennedy said the cuts are a good start but that more need to be made.
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"I don't think there is a situation when mileage reimbursement won't cover it," Kennedy said. "Even in emergencies you can always claim mileage for the car you drive."
The issue has been on the table since budget talks started in March, but has been getting more attention after following a number of high-profile incidents involving the arrests of city employees for the misuse of their take-home cars.
"Any employee who is caught abusing or in violation of those laws will be dealt with as I have recently: very severely," said Segarra.
Council members said they would like to put GPS units in all take-home cars so the city can track the vehicles at all times.
