Gov. Brown Cracks Down On State-Owned Vehicles

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Governor Jerry Brown first took on state-owned cell phones, now he's going after the state's car fleet. 

Today, Gov. Brown ordered all state agencies state agencies and departments to immediately stopping buying new cars and to turn in taxpayer-funded cars that are not essential to state business.

 "There is a lot of wasteful spending on cars that aren't even driven," Brown said. "And we can't afford to spend taxpayer money on new cars while California faces such a massive deficit."

His goal for the state's passenger vehicle fleet is the same as the state-owned cell phones.  He wants to cut the fleet in half, although the cuts could go deeper.

"Fifty percent is a starting point. If we find more waste, we'll make more cuts," Brown added.

According to Brown's office, the Department of General Services estimates that there are 11,000 passenger cars and trucks in the state fleet, and approximately 4,500 home storage permits, that don't serve a health or public safety function.

The state agencies have 120 days to comply with the order.