Audit raises questions about state planes

Does Idaho really need three state airplanes, including one mostly used to fly the governor? That’s the question raised by a new legislative audit of the Idaho Transportation Department which states, “The urgency of trips and itineraries indicate that other less expensive transportation options exist in most circumstances.” The questions about the aircraft were the only finding of the audit, which is a regular legislative audit of ITD that’s part of the legislative auditor’s office’s evaluation of each state agency at least every three years. Its focus was “to evaluate the effectiveness of the Idaho Transportation Department’s internal control design and operation,” and no “material weaknesses” were found. But the audit raised several questions about the state planes. You can read my full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review.