CAPE CORAL, FL –

Cape Coral City Manager Terry Stewart denied claims of the city's take-home vehicle audit report April 20, saying the city is not paying insurance on more vehicles than it owns, according to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze. Though 920 on-road vehicles were listed as insured, the audit report revealed the combined total of all departmental vehicles only numbered 845.

"The finding that the city is paying insurance on more cars than it owns is inaccurate," he said after the city council meeting on April 20.

Stewart declined to go into more detail about the audit's finding, preferring instead to present his take on city management's handling of the city's fleet during a workshop discussion.

Councilmember Bill Deile, who attended the audit committee's meeting last week in which the report was discussed, intended to broach the subject of the audit Monday during his report to council at the end of their meeting, but suggested a more comprehensive approach be taken during a workshop meeting.

The take-home vehicle audit report's recommendations included creating a comprehensive recording system for all vehicles, monitoring personal use of vehicles to ensure an economical or operational benefit, and complying with IRS requirements regarding take-home vehicles for city employees.

Stewart, who agreed with most but not all of the audit recommendations, plans to address issues of concern, possibly by the upcoming council meeting April 27.