MAYVILLE - County lawmakers are curious to know whether the savings they expected from buying fuel-efficient cars ever panned out.
Doug Richmond, R-Westfield, reminded the legislature recently that a five-year report on the effectiveness of the cars is just about due.
Calling the issue highly debated at the time it was passed, Richmond pointed to resolution 33-06, which was passed on Feb. 22, 2006.
"This body, in that resolution, approved spending significantly more money to buy hybrid cars in full belief that we were going to save money," Richmond said. "And it was clearly identified in that motion that there would be a conclusion drawn within approximately a five-year period as to whether or not that was successful in saving the county money."
As a sponsor of the resolution in 2006, Maria Kindberg, D-Jamestown, said that there was also interest in buying hybrid cars because of the environmental impact - not just the financial aspect.
The cars purchased are used by the Department of Social Services.
"I think that it would be proper and fair for this body to ask for facts and figures regarding those two cars," Richmond said, "... as to whether or not it was a wise financial decision."
Legislature Chairman Fred Croscut, R-Sherman, said the question would be put to the Department of Social Services for an update on the vehicles.