CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin Caperton says he wants to follow the lead of new Gov. Jim Justice in cutting spending where possible.
Caperton ordered the elimination of 35 vehicles from the agency’s overall fleet, the DEP announced Friday.
“We will make every effort to streamline our costs for the benefit of the taxpayers of West Virginia,” Caperton said. “The governor has laid out clear direction to reduce costs wherever possible. The DEP is certainly no exception.”
Eliminating 35 vehicles represents 50 percent of the agency’s current number of pool vehicles and nine percent of its overall fleet.
Back on Tuesday, a day after taking office, Gov. Justice announced it was sending five vehicles assigned to the office back to the state motor pool because they weren’t needed.