City of Indianapolis Mulls Surcharge for Take-Home Vehicles
INDIANAPOLIS – Soaring gas prices are forcing the City of Indianapolis to look at ways to cut fleet costs.
INDIANAPOLIS – Soaring gas prices are forcing the City of Indianapolis to look at ways to cut fleet costs. The budget shortfall due to unexpectedly high fuel prices is projected to top $4 million by September. Republican City-County Councilor Ben Hunter has formed a bipartisan study group to look at options, according to www.wthr.com.
A couple of options include adding more hybrids to the fleet and changing the rules on take-home vehicles, most of which are police cars.
According to fleet services, about 1,650 IMPD officers have take-home vehicles. City policy allows them unrestricted use, meaning officers are free to use them off-duty. Having cruisers parked in neighborhoods or at shopping centers is considered a crime deterrent.
Officers have been asked to turn off the engine and roll down the windows when filing reports.
IMPD is not the only department facing changes because of soaring gas prices. Westfield is also considering a surcharge for take-home cars, while Bedford is looking at doubling up in cruisers and starting a walking patrol.
More Operations
Who Deserves Fleet Recognition and What Could You Teach at GFX?
Who helped shape your fleet career, and what have you learned that could help someone else?
Read More →
What’s Haunting Public Sector Fleets?
Public sector fleet challenges rarely happen in isolation, and addressing one often means understanding how it connects to another.
Read More →
Is Keeping Older Fleet Vehicles Really Saving Money?
Is keeping vehicles longer saving money, and what happens when a diagnostic test points to the wrong fix?
Read More →
How Smart Fleet Strategy Can Help Local Government Agencies Do More with Less
Keeping a vehicle longer may ease this year’s budget, but what does it cost the next one? A closer look at fleet decisions can reveal opportunities to reduce spending while protecting essential services.
Read More →
Connect with Government Fleet on LinkedIn
From industry news and fleet management strategies to conversations with peers, Government Fleet's LinkedIn page offers public-sector fleet professionals another way to stay informed and connected.
Read More →
Town of Queen Creek Named Most Successful Fleet Award Winner of Inaugural RTA Fleet Success Awards
Five fleets were honored at RTA Connect 2026 in Chicago for excellence across resource efficiency, intentional culture, risk management, and stakeholder satisfaction.
Read More →
A buyer's guide to fleet management software in 2027
Buying fleet management software in 2027 means looking beyond features and price. As fleet operations, technology and expectations evolve, this guide explores what today’s fleet professionals should consider when choosing a system that can deliver value now and adapt to what comes next.
Read More →
Hazard Alerts, Fleet Car Sales Rise and a New Shuttle Concept
Fleet car sales doubled, but the bigger picture tells a different story in this week’s roundup.
Read More →
How St. Johns County Turned Fleet Data Into Better Replacement Decisions
St. Johns County, Florida, had fleet data, but turning it into reliable decision guidance was another matter. Instead of starting over with a new fleet management system, the county connected existing tools and built a scoring system that gives managers an objective look at fleet health.
Read More →
Fleet Forward Conference Introduces One-Day Passes for 2026
New one-day registration lets fleet professionals attend Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, with passes available for $249.
Read More →