RIVERSIDE - Department heads in Riverside County government will no longer be eligible to use county-owned cars for business or pleasure under a policy approved today by the Board of Supervisors.

In a 5-0 vote, the board agreed to change the county's Executive Vehicle Benefit policy so that managers utilize their own automobiles, though continue to receive reimbursement from the county for business-related travel.

The change will affect 14 executives, according to county Purchasing & Fleet Services Department chief Bob Howdyshell.

Board members and other elected officials will have the option of continuing to use county-owned vehicles or driving their own, with a monthly stipend of $550 to offset the costs of maintenance and gas.

Elected officials driving their own autos will continue to be reimbursed for mileage at the federally-approved rate of 50 cents per mile, which kicks in after the first 600 miles driven, according to the Department of Human Resources.

The new policy requires detailed record-keeping to distinguish between travel for business and pleasure for tax purposes, county officials said.

Supervisors Marion Ashley, John Benoit, Jeff Stone and John Tavaglione all drive taxpayer-funded vehicles. The only board member who uses his own car is Bob Buster, according to Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] the Department of Human Resources.

Treasurer Don Kent and Assessor-Clerk-Recorder Larry Ward also drive county-owned autos.

A proposal was put forth to increase the monthly stipend to $850 per month, but Buster opposed the fatter monthly payout.

"This is another way the top leads the way to restructuring pay and benefits and also reflects what our longer-term financial situation is," the supervisor said.

Stone and Benoit supported the new policy, while emphasizing their desire to retain publicly financed cars, citing the thousands of miles they log in county-related travel each month.

Benoit said he would put 7,000 miles on his car this month alone.

"This is an interesting discussion and one that's important to have -- trying to reduce the costs of the county," he said. "I'm trying to do all I can in that regard. But there's a lot of travel involved in doing the job I was elected to do."

Benoit represents the 4th District, covering most of eastern Riverside County. His principal office is in Palm Springs.

The new policy will not affect non-executive employees who drive county vehicles. A year ago, the number of take-home cars was estimated at 1,000. But the latest figures were not immediately available.