State officials should find ways to save on air travel

There's no question Missouri is a big state and that sometimes air travel for public officials is necessary.

However, a recent audit by the Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich said $376,000 was spent to fly transportation and conservation commissioners to meetings during 2012 and 2013. This was only one part of the audit, which called the state's fleet of planes too large and pointed to Gov. Nixon's office as primary user of the highway patrol plane in the same time period.

Roberta Broeker, chief financial officer of the Department of Transportation, said in an Associated Press story that plane use was important to make travel easier for commissioners.

The audit also highlighted that spouses, family members and former commissioners traveled with commissioners via state planes, which is against Missouri's policy. Planes were at full capacity about 10 percent of time.

We have editorialized in previous years about Gov. Nixon's use of state planes. But as the audit notes, it's more than the governor's office.

The auditor said only the highway patrol and conservation departments regularly used state planes for commissioners.

There are times when using a state plane is necessary. However, other statewide elected officials, commissioners and members of the General Assembly regularly use ground transportation for meetings. Schweich suggested reimbursing mileage was more cost effective and that departments should better coordinate plane travel.

We hope others find opportunities to minimize air travel and abide by state policy regarding who can use the planes.

Elected officials are asked to be good stewards with state dollars. When you consider past budget cuts of needed services, it should put more emphasis on finding ways to save. Usage of state planes is one.