Regardless of the exact amount that state taxpayers will save, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ decision to sell hundreds of state vehicles is a step in the right direction.

The governor was spurred into action on this issue by reports that initially appeared in the Journal-World about 130 new cars and trucks sitting unused in a state parking area. The cars, which were purchased during the administration of Gov. Bill Graves, had been requisitioned by agencies that apparently didn’t even need them but feared that budget cuts might prevent their inclusion in future budgets.

Sebelius announced last week that, except for law enforcement agencies, the state would buy no new vehicles for two years. The state also will reduce its current vehicle inventory by auctioning 739 vehicles that are under-used.

The governor estimated the move would save the state $8.6 million. Senate President David Kerr disputed that figure, claiming the governor had exaggerated cost savings in the past. Exactly how much is saved remains to be seen, but the savings are likely to be substantial. It’s true that even $8.6 million isn’t going to have a huge impact on the state’s overall bottom line, but if the governor can achieve similar savings in a number of areas, it could add up.

One of the most disappointing aspects of this story is the realization that Graves was aware of the surplus vehicles, but chose to do nothing about them, even while he was implementing across-the-board budget cuts for K-12 education, higher education and social services. Joyce Glasscock, Graves’ secretary of administration, said in a recent interview, that Graves didn’t act on a report about the vehicles because he “was preoccupied and didn’t want to create a lot of disgruntled feelings as he was walking out the door.”

One presumes that he didn’t want to create bad feelings among his close associates in Topeka by dealing with the car issue, but was willing to risk statewide wrath from the more faceless people affected by broader budget cuts. Graves’ tenure as governor started out with great promise but fizzled to a very disappointing end.

We can argue about the details and exact savings of the Sebelius vehicle cuts, but even if the savings aren’t enormous, it will be a popular move with Kansans. The many state residents struggling through the current tough economy surely are cringing at the idea that their tax dollars were used to stockpile cars far nicer than anything they could afford for themselves.