THE CITY OF VENICE IS LOOKING INTO CITY-ISSUED VEHICLES BEING TAKEN HOME BY EMPLOYEES THERE. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE DURING A BUDGET WORKSHOP EARLIER THIS WEEK WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO CLOSE A $4 MILLION DOLLAR HOLE. COUNCIL MEMBER BOB DANIELS ASKED FOR AN AUDIT TO SEE WHY 26 EMPLOYEES TAKE THEIR VEHICLES HOME, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT TEN PERCENT OF THE CITY STAFF. DANIELS DID THE MATH AND BELIEVES THE CITY COULD SAVE ABOUT $200,000 A YEAR IF THEY STOP THE PRACTICE. HOWEVER, ACTING CITY MANAGER NANCY WOODLEY THINKS MUCH OF THE USAGE MAY BE NEEDED, SAYING MOST OF THE VEHICLES ARE WITH DEPARTMENTS THAT HANDLE EMERGENCIES SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE, UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING. WOODLEY ALSO SAID SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE INCENTIVES INSTEAD OF PAYING MORE TO EMPLOYEES. VENICE CITY LEADERS SAY IF THEY CAN’T BALANCE THE BUDGET, LAYOFFS AND TAX INCREASES COULD BY ON THE HORIZON.
