Mayor Changes His Tune, Asks To Use A City Car Talbott Has Criticized Car Allowances, Still Considers Them Questionable

Spokane Mayor John Talbott wants taxpayers to provide him with a car.

His request, which comes before the City Council tonight, is hardly precedent-setting. Most mayors - though not Talbott’s predecessor, Jack Geraghty - tooled around to community events in a car paid for by the city.

But Talbott’s past criticism of car allowances for city employees is prompting some of his colleagues to describe the mayor’s request as hypocritical. Still, those same council members say they’ll approve the expenditure.

Buying the Ford Contour and paying related expenses will cost $18,640 this year.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” said Councilman Jeff Colliton. “I can remember when John was very critical of expenses throughout the city - car expenses to begin with. … But sure, if he wants it, he can have a car.”

“There’s past precedents for it, but it seems odd, coming from a person who raised such furor over auto allowances for city staff,” Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes said. “It’s always surprising when the person who rails the loudest about it then wants it.”

But Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers defended Talbott’s request, saying the mayor spends nearly all his time on the job. The meetings and personal appearances are endless, she said.

“The travel and commutes are incredible,” Rodgers said.

Talbott says he sees the issue as one of personal economy.

“I assessed the cost to me of running my own car,” he said. “Thank you, I’ll take a city car.”

The council stopped putting money in its budget for the mayor’s car when Geraghty was elected, said City Manager Bill Pupo. Geraghty chose to drive his own automobile.

Money for Talbott’s car will come from reserves.

Council policies say a mayor can have a city car and other council members can be reimbursed for mileage. None of the current council members asks for those reimbursements, Colliton said.

Talbott admits he has criticized employee car allowances and says he still considers them a questionable expense. The allowances range from $101 a month to $283 and are paid to about 50 employees.

Talbott earns $36,000 annually. “The majority of the people drawing allowances make substantially more than that, and a good percentage of them don’t use their cars,” he said.

Former Mayor Sheri Barnard said she drove a city-owned Taurus and her predecessor Vicki McNeill drove some kind of city-owned Chevrolet.

“Believe me, when you’re the mayor, that’s all you do,” Barnard said. “You’re the mayor wherever you go.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LOAN REPORT City Manager Bill Pupo plans to give a report on the $22.65 million federal loan the city is helping secure for developers of River Park Square. No public testimony will be taken on the issue. A briefing for the council will begin at 3:30 p.m. today in the lower-level conference room of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The council meeting will begin at 6 p.m.