MADISON, WI — In identifying another 504 vehicles for elimination, Wis. Gov. Jim Doyle on Aug. 4 wrapped up his seven-month effort to trim the fleet to its 1994 level while increasing accountability by state employees who use taxpayer-funded cars, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. After a state investigation found that hundreds of vehicles were being underused, and in some cases misused, Doyle announced in June that the state would sell 1,000 or more of them. At the time, however, he singled out just 569. The Aug. 4 announcement brings the total cut to 1,073, almost 15 percent of the 7,228 vehicles the state owned as of February. "Our intention was to get this back to a level where it was approximately 10 years ago, and with this we'll have done that," Doyle said to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We stopped the buying frenzy some time ago, and now we're trying to deal with what happens with the vehicles that were being purchased during that frenzy." The three largest operations – the University of Wisconsin System, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation – lost 10.2 percent to 13.9 percent of their fleets. The Department of Corrections, with the next largest fleet, lost 89 of its 1,019 vehicles, or 8.7 percent. Medium-sized agencies took the brunt of the hits, with eight of them trimming 32 to 39 percent of their vehicles. Among them were the departments of Health and Family Services, Revenue and Commerce, and the public defender's office. On July 31, the first 54 vehicles tagged by Doyle went on the auction block in Arlington, bringing about $4,000 each. At that rate, the state would net $4.3 million for the vehicles Doyle has targeted for reduction. But Doyle aide Dan Leistikow said the administration expects the state to reap even more from future sales because the first vehicles sold were the oldest, highest-mileage ones. Doyle said he was pleased with the results of the first sale, in which the vehicles on average sold for 25-percent above their Black Book price. Media attention on the issue brought more bidders than usual to the latest auction. Saturday saw 370 bidders, compared with 224 who came out for a December auction at the same site. The Department of Administration began looking for ways to reduce the fleet in January. The focus of the inquiry was expanded after Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager was ticketed for drunken driving in a state car and questions mounted about her personal use of the 1999 Buick Park Avenue. Lautenschlager pleaded guilty to the drunken-driving charge and paid a $250 forfeiture to the state's Ethics Board for failing to reimburse the state for personal miles on the car. While the administration has downsized the fleet as promised, legislators may still have something to say about the operation. The Legislative Audit Bureau is in the midst of a comprehensive fleet audit, which is expected to be done early next year. State Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), who called for that audit, has supported Doyle's efforts but said Wednesday that he expects the legislative review to find more efficiencies. "I think we'll find we can improve our purchasing, our bidding, and my hope is that we would purchase more fuel-efficient cars as the fleet rolls over," he said.