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A Review of State Travel
May 2005

FOLLOW-UP (PDF)     REPORT (PDF)     SUMMARY (PDF)

Members of the General Assembly requested the Legislative Audit Council (LAC ) to conduct an audit of state travel. Our review focused on the efficiency of state agency travel including lodging, one-day meals, airfares, subsistence, and video conferencing. In particular, we reviewed travel for state employees with the highest travel expenditures. We also identified other travel practices that South Carolina could adopt. Our findings are summarized below.

  • The state spent approximately $63 million on travel in FY 03-04. This was less than 1% of total state expenditures. During the three-year period, FY 01-02 to FY 03-04, state travel expenditures decreased by approximately 7% while total state expenditures increased by approximately 11%. During the period FY 01-02 through FY 03-04, 40 (36%) agencies’ travel expenditures increased, while 70 (64%) agencies’ expenditures either decreased or remained unchanged.
  • There is no centralized office that is responsible for managing travel by South Carolina state agencies to ensure that travel expenditures are efficient and cost effective. This makes it difficult for the state to use its volume of travel to reduce costs, improve communication and training about travel policies, and develop expertise in travel practices.
  • State regulations do not limit the amount of reimbursement for lodging obtained by employees while traveling on official business. To reduce travel expenditures, other states and the federal government have implemented lodging reimbursement limits. We found evidence that limits on lodging reimbursements to state employees would save money.
  • Eliminating reimbursement for one-day meals could result in significant savings to the state in direct expenses and reduce administrative costs.
  • The state should use its bulk purchasing power to obtain contracts with airlines for discounted airfares. Other states and the federal government utilize these contracts.
  • Subsistence payments for Public Service, Employment Security, and Workers’ Compensation commissioners should be discontinued. Commissioners should be reimbursed for actual travel expenditures like other state employees.
  • Video conferencing technology has impacted the travel expenditures of state agencies. We found that video conferencing can significantly reduce travel expenditures by limiting transportation and lodging costs, as well as reducing instructor fees and employees’ time spent away from their headquarters.
  • The state can also improve its travel management practices in the areas of moving expenses, non-state employee travel, and car rental contracts.