Deal cuts cost of green vehicles

Supervisors approved a discount program for county employees Tuesday that shaves the price off fuel-efficient vehicles.

Officials say the move is an effort to encourage the nearly 100,000 county workers and their immediate families to buy more environmentally friendly forms of transportation.

The program, which so far is valid only at El Monte-based Longo Toyota, will place a price cap on all hybrid vehicles sold at the dealership. The base price for a Toyota Prius, which the dealership sells for $23,184, would be lowered to $21,746, for example.

Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke also asked county staff to study the possibility of extending discounts to retired employees, as well as those who contract with the county.