With more than 260,000 square miles of ground to cover in Texas, agencies say using state vehicles is typically cheaper, safer and more reliable than rentals or mileage reimbursements for employees — particularly those whose jobs include on-site inspections, working in remote places and conducting statewide investigations.
Many state-owned vehicles are aging past the standards for replacement. Early budget drafts signal that lawmakers are considering funding some $237.6 million in requests for new ones. The average age of the nearly 34,000 vehicles in the state-owned fleet belonging to 100 agencies, colleges and universities is about 10 years, according to the Texas comptroller’s office.
