EXECUTIVE ORDER
07-09

WHEREAS, the taxpayers of Missouri deserve to know that their tax dollars are spent wisely and not on unnecessary expenses; and

WHEREAS, when I took office there were no records detailing how many vehicles were in the state-owned vehicle fleet; and

WHEREAS, since then I have organized the state-owned vehicle fleet and reduced the number of vehicles in the fleet to the current count of 2,136, a number that does not include those vehicles utilized by the Department of Transportation and Department of Conservation; and

WHEREAS, a great number of vehicles in the state-owned vehicle fleet have more than 150,000 miles and are in need of replacement for efficient, safe and cost effective operation; and

WHEREAS, the average maintenance costs per mile for the highest mileage vehicles have increased dramatically, making those vehicles less cost effective; and

WHEREAS, there is a continued need to protect the safety of employees, maintain an efficient fleet of vehicles, and reduce the cost of operating and maintaining the state's fleet of vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioner of Administration's authorization to purchase replacement vehicles when needed is necessary to reduce vehicle fleet costs and to ensure that state vehicles are safe and efficient; and

WHEREAS, in situations where a state vehicle is unavailable for a state employee to utilize for work-related purposes, the agency currently must make use of higher cost options such as rental vehicles or employee mileage reimbursement at nearly twice the cost of using a state-owned vehicle; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioner of Administration issued a State Vehicular Travel Policy (SP-12) requiring state employees to utilize the lowest cost travel option for in-state ground transportation; and

WHEREAS, the state can continue to reduce costs associated with employee business travel by greatly reducing or eliminating altogether instances where employees must use their own vehicles or the agency must rent a vehicle.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Matt Blunt, Governor of the State of Missouri, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby order as follows:

The Commissioner of Administration shall explore ways to eliminate increased costs associated with state employees using their own vehicles for state business and state agencies renting vehicles for state employee use. The Commissioner of Administration shall have the authority to replace vehicles in the state vehicle fleet if this option provides cost savings for the taxpayers of the State of Missouri. Furthermore, no less than seventy percent of the replacement vehicles shall be flex fuel vehicles that can operate on fuel blended with 85% ethanol.

The Commissioner of Administration shall examine the existing state vehicle fleet to identify and replace those vehicles that are not cost effective due excessive mileage, advanced age and high maintenance costs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 23^rd day of February, 2007.

ATTEST:

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