HUTCHINSON, KS – Before the first of the year, the City of Hutchinson plans to cut back the number of employees who take home city vehicles every evening, according to The Hutchinson News.

The issue was addressed at a recent Hutchinson City Council meeting, with City Manager John Deardoff submitting a list of 51 positions that drive city vehicles home at night and back to work in the morning.

The city’s current philosophy is that employees who could be called out at night for city business are allowed a take-home vehicle. However, with an extremely tight 2009 budget and high gas prices, council members requested staff take another look at who was taking home city vehicles.

Employees who take home vehicles are taxed by the federal government for doing so. However, the city is not reimbursed in any way for the gas or maintenance on those vehicles.

Deardoff said city staff would begin cutting the list but also welcomed council members to submit their suggestions on which positions did and did not warrant a take-home vehicle.