A recent article in this paper stated that South Brunswick is purchasing two new hybrid cars. Further, it stated that new replacements to the 230-car township fleet will nearly all be hybrid cars.
I feel that the Township Council has the responsibility to spend taxpayer money wisely and minimize costs to the taxpayers. Purchasing hybrid cars may be going green for the car industry but not for us taxpayers.
A Toyota Prius Hybrid sells for less than $1,000 more that a gasoline model. It is straightforward to show that purchasing the Prius Hybrid is a saving over a gasoline model after a few years. But that is the wrong comparison.
The Prius Hybrid will cost about $22,000 to purchase. An American, five-passenger Ford Focus will cost about $14,000. The Prius savings cannot come close to the $8,000 extra that it will cost to purchase it. Replacing the township vehicle fleet with hybrids rather than basic cars will cost more than $1.8 million. Some of that may be recovered over the life of the vehicles. Most will be lost.
I feel that the Township Council should be prudent with our tax dollars. The township needs a car fleet for transportation. It does not need the luxury of hybrid cars at the expense of the taxpayers.
Paul C. Murray, of Kingston

