COLUMBIA, S.C. - The state Budget and Control Board on Tuesday approved plans to track state property and study the cost-effectiveness of state-owned vehicles.

Gov. Mark Sanford has called for the sale of excess state property and vehicles to raise money.

The board last month approved the sale of properties that are clearly surplus, but a comprehensive database is needed to identify and sell other properties, said board spokesman Michael Sponhour.

The plan would consolidate existing databases on land inventory, property insurance, office space and leasing information. Surplus properties could then be recommended for sale based on assessments.

Much of the work would be done in-house, but the board would solicit bids from consultants to help decide on space use and development strategies for state-owned and leased properties. It's not clear how much that would cost, Sponhour said.

Sanford proposed in his executive budget last year the sale of more than a third of the state's car fleet. Sanford, who is chairman of the budget board, suggested moving to a system of leasing cars.

The Legislature said cars could be sold, but first ordered a study to determine whether leasing is cheaper than owning and maintaining a state fleet.

A narrow study, which will cost $82,000, is under way. That study will look at how much it costs to operate the state's 4,900 passenger vehicles and how much the private sector would charge.

But the board approved a plan Tuesday to put a bid out for a consultant to conduct a more comprehensive study on state government vehicles. It's estimated this study will cost another $250,000, Sponhour said.

The more in-depth study will review all the state's 15,000 vehicles, except school buses. It will analyze usage patterns and consider selling vehicles that are not being used enough. It also will analyze maintenance programs and recommend the number of vehicles needed by each agency.

The first fleet study should be complete by the time the Legislature resumes in January, but the more comprehensive study will take longer.

Sanford is concerned the first study won't be effective because it won't look at the big picture, governor's spokesman Will Folks said.

"If you examine all 15,000 vehicles as opposed to 4,900 passenger vehicles, chances are you're going to find some significant savings," Folks said.

But the General Assembly passed a proviso requiring the first study in response to the governor's request, said Budget and Control Board member state Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston.

"We need to follow the law," Harrell said. The second study will build on the first, he said.