The panel found vehicle use policies — including those addressing personal use — "insufficient, vague, fragmented," and that in any case "there is a widespread disregard" of even those existing policies. Fleet management has not exercised its policy-driven control function, there is no "meaningful oversight" of fleet management, and insufficient analysis underlies key decisions.

"There seems to be a culture in the county that accepts decisions with very little data," Della-Piana said.

The panel conducted an analysis of Toyota Camrys and concluded that, at least in the case of those vehicles, the county's highly touted two-year replacement policy was not cost-effective. What's more, it concludes the fleet's vehicle replacement fund has $9 million more than it needs.

County fleet manager Nick Morgan said he was "a little surprised" at the panel's report.

"Obviously I disagree with some of their conclusions," he said. "I'll stand by (the fast-replacement program). I think it does work."

He agreed, however, with the panel regarding underutilization.

"That's the biggest single problem we've had," he said. "People are reluctant to give up their vehicles."

The panel was convened after it was revealed last spring that some top county officials were using their county-owned cars for personal trips. The "guzzle-gate" scandal resulted in then-chief financial officer Randy Allen resigning (he has since been rehired in another department), and mayor's counsel Greg Curtis, a state legislator, also resigning after vehicle personal use and possibly inadvertent "double dipping" of county and state vehicle reimbursements. Allen is now facing criminal charges.

Sorensen resigned and pled guilty to misuse of public money after admitting to stealing at least $8,600 on the county gas card. His sentence included 10 days jail time.

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E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com