For perhaps the first time, a single agency could soon manage the estimated 9,300 vehicles owned or leased by West Virginia state government.

The House of Delegates unanimously passed a proposal from Gov. Joe Manchin Thursday that would create the new office within the Department of Administration.

The Senate previously approved the bill. It must now consider a House amendment that aims to limit personal use of the vehicles.

Recent legislative audits detailed several problems with the state's handling of vehicles.

Among other issues, one report questioned why 494 employees across state government had been issued take-home vehicles. At the time, the state could not count the size of its fleet or gauge its collective mileage.

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