An internal audit in the City of Anchorage, Alaska, concluded that the city should better enforce its take-home vehicle program, with more vehicles assigned out than necessary and insufficient usage tracking.
City law allows take-home vehicles to be assigned to municipal executives and employees who may have to respond quickly in case of an emergency. Employees must live within city limits to receive a take-home vehicle unless an exception is granted. The audit studied the vehicles between February and April 2018. In February 2018, there were 48 vehicles assigned through the take-home program.
Although monthly usage reports were required by city law, the audit found that several departments did not submit these reports to payroll. The report also noted that the city did not keep sufficient records on the program; Not all employees had approvals for take-home vehicles on file, and some did not live within city limits.
The program guidelines did not address whether employees could use take-home vehicles for personal errands, whether employees could transport relatives and other passengers, or whether employees would keep their vehicles at home or keep them at a municipal parking lot while on vacation. In addition, the take-home program does not specify who follows up on delinquent monthly usage reports, who maintains all paperwork associated with the program, or how payroll is notified about new vehicle assignments.
According to city management, the take-home program will be revised to clarify its procedures.
Click here to read the full audit.
