CUMBERLAND, MD – The Allegany County Board of Education is taking steps to “actively manage” transportation costs and decrease the figures on gas receipts as much as possible, including a look at the school district’s vehicle take-home practice, according to www.times-news.com.

Randy Bittinger, board finance director, said unlike other government bodies, the district’s central office does not have a vehicle fleet. It does have nine of its some 45 non-bus vehicles designated as take-home vehicles. Those designations are made by Bill AuMiller, district superintendent; Jim Smith, personnel director; and department heads. Bittinger will report on the number of vehicles the board owns and which positions are authorized take-home vehicles.

Jane Dawson, board vice president, said she requested the information after receiving a small number of inquiries from the public. She said the nine employees authorized take-home vehicles are “all very important” and did not anticipate suggesting any policy changes.

Bittinger said the board and Allegany County government, which is reviewing its vehicle-take home policy that cost nearly $800,000 in fuel this past fiscal year, “are two different governments with two different purposes.”

Bittinger said the board could be in a better position than other government agencies because of its corporate contract with Enterprise Rent-a-Car. The IRS changed its mileage reimbursement to 58.5 cents per mile from 50.5 cents a year ago. That figure is the amount that district employees are reimbursed, per the finer points of union-negotiated contracts. Shortly thereafter, finance staff were authorized to seek other, less-costly ways of completing work-related travel.