SO MUCH for California agencies biting the bullet. Apparently, some of them didn't get the memo that we have been — and still are — in a fiscal crisis.

According to published reports, two agencies in particular, the Department of Transportation and the Department of General Services, spent more than $5.5 million on new cars and new trucks this year while state lawmakers were pulling out their hair over making painful cuts in the state budget. Here's the real clincher: Those vehicles have been sitting around collecting dust. That's right, we're not even using them.

Here's an example of how reckless these agencies have been. General Services spent $1.2 million on 50 new Toyota Prius sedans in February although state agencies only committed to buying 13. They have been parked for months. A spokesman has assured us now that these cars will be part of a pilot program for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, costing taxpayers an additional $612,500. If this is anything like previous state pilot programs with experimental vehicles, we won't hold our breath.

Caltrans spent $4.3 million since February on new trucks and dump-truck bodies, which included a $1.7 million rush order that took place June 30, conveniently the last day of the state's fiscal year. But none of that counts that trucks waiting for final assembly have already been sitting in Caltrans yards since 2006. Both agencies claim they have

We have a better idea. The state needs to sell off most of these vehicles that are going to waste and only hold on to those we know for sure will be used. To say these vehicles will eventually be on the road or will be used for a sham of a project is irresponsible.

This report also brought out wasteful purchases by the Highway Patrol, Fish and Game and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Who knows how many state agencies have thrown money out the window with bogus vehicle purchases.

Playing around with taxpayer money has got to stop. We demand a halt to further vehicle purchases until a complete audit is conducted and that the state gets rid of unneeded vehicles. That would be a nice start.

We understand fully that in the larger scheme of things these expenditures are but a drop in the bucket that is the state budget.

But perception matters, especially in tough economic times, and it is nonsense such as this that further sullies the image of a state government that cannot afford further tarnishing.

To right this wrong, the state must conduct a full audit of automobile purchases and then make the results of that audit public.