Oct 6, 2008 8:05 pm US/Eastern
Selling Florida's Govt. Planes May Save Millions
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ―
When it comes to government spending, Florida's numbers might be in the sky, figuratively speaking.
A legislative study suggests Florida could save millions by selling the state's business jet used by Gov. Charlie Crist and other top officials. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability issued the report Monday after studying the state's three-plane executive fleet. Lawmakers facing a tight budget ordered the study.
It says the state could save between $700,000 and $1.8 million a year by selling the Cessna Citation jet. Alternatives range from reducing the fleet to a single Beechcraft King Air turboprop to replacing the jet with another King Air.
Other options would be increasing the use of air taxi, charter and commercial flights, but the report noted each has disadvantages and did not estimate overall potential savings.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
