HILO, HI -Hawaii County's take-home vehicle assignments have dropped by 54 percent since December 2008 when Mayor Billy Kenoi took office, according to Hawaii 24/7.

Prior to Kenoi taking office, 141 take-home vehicles assigned to employees in the County of Hawaii. As of June 14, 2010, only 65 employees permitted to take county vehicles home, reported Hawaii 24/7.

County Finance Director Nancy Crawford said county vehicle assignments were re-examined by the administration in January. "This year we put stiffer requirements in effect to justify vehicle assignments," Crawford said. "It's another example of this administration's commitment to reducing costs and controlling operations."

Kenoi has reduced the size of the County budget by a total of $27 million since taking office, in large part by directing department heads to cut deeply into their operating budgets, Hawaii 24/7 reported.

According to Crawford, the total number of all county vehicles with state license plates currently is 1,095, including cars, trucks, fire engines, bulldozers, buses, and ambulances, Hawaii 24/7 reported.