County elected officials will continue to have the option of driving a county car or receiving a monthly vehicle allowance, but a government vehicle no longer will be an option for department heads, under a revised policy adopted by the Board of Supervisors this week.

Department heads, however, will continue to receive a vehicle allowance. For elected officials and other Riverside County government executives, that allowance will remain at the current rate: $550 per month.

Human Resources Director Barbara Olivier proposed raising the allowance to $1,000 per month for elected officials and to $850 per month for all other executives, with the goal of being competitive with surrounding counties.

But at Supervisor Bob Buster's urging, the board decided against the increase.

"Just because the other counties are doing it doesn't mean that this county should, or that it is appropriate," Buster said.

Also under the new policy, Olivier said executives will need to track the miles they drive on county business.

The change is part of an ongoing effort to reduce the number of county vehicles and curb costs, at a time when revenues are falling, said county Executive Officer Bill Luna.

"We need to get out of the business of providing a county-supported vehicle, and the gas and the insurance and the maintenance and everything else that comes along with it," Luna said.

Call staff writer Dave Downey at 951-676-4315, ext. 2623.