Fulton Chairman Wants Tax Chief to Stop Using $39,000 County SUV
Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves plans to ask Fulton County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand to reassign a nearly $39,000 vehicle he purchased using county funds. Fulton Commissioners began raising concerns after learning about the expense during a routine take home vehicle report.
The 2013 Ford Explorer currently driven by Ferdinand was purchased last year with funds from his own department. Chairman Eaves says he plans to ask Ferdinand to reassign the vehicle to another department because he’s concerned about public perception.
“A 2007 vehicle that has been already used by the police department, I use that. That could have been used by him. We have surplus vehicles within our fleet, so why purchase a brand new vehicle at that amount of money given the economic uncertainty, given the scrutiny, that’s going on with the county right now in terms of our resources?”
Eaves says he thinks Ferdinand should reassign the vehicle to another department because he thinks it’s the “best case scenario” given the county has already made the purchase.
Originally, the purchase did not go before commissioners because most expenses below $50,000 dollars don’t need commission approval. Also, vehicle purchases are typically made by individual departments. Eaves says the commission plans to review its policies, but he cautions against a knee jerk reaction.
“We don’t want to create a policy that creates some unintended consequences, so there will be some degree of review and discussion, and then hopefully a decision will be made that’s fair and efficient.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner Tom Lowe defends Ferdinand’s vehicle purchase.
“I just think the man has the authority to do it. He did what he had the authority to do and he’s done more to make money for this county than any other single person on the staff and certainly nobody up here.”
Lowe says there’s no need for a policy change.
“It would take the staff $50,000 in cost to make a change on this one little item. That does not make sense. It just does not make sense.”
According to county records, Ferdinand has driven more than 7200 miles since receiving the vehicle last September. His fuel usage during those months added up to more than $1100 in county funds.
A county spokesperson told WABE Ferdinand is currently at a state conference and plans to respond on Thursday.
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