Costs Not Included In Auditor's Report

Florida Gubernatorial candidates Alex Sink (D) and Bill McCollum (R) have both used state planes for travel between Tallahassee, which for you non-Floridians is in the northern panhandle, and their central Florida homes, according to a report in the Miami Herald. Sink is the state's Chief Financial Officer, and McCollum is the State Attorney General.

Both have occasionally had an empty state-owned plane dispatched from Tallahassee to pick them up in Central Florida and take them to official events as well. The planes sometimes returned to Tallahassee empty following those official trips.

Tallahassee television station WMBB is reporting that state auditors "expressed concern" that Sink and McCollum might be misusing state airplanes for personal travel. Other than having empty aircraft flown to pick them up at their homes, examples cited side trips to drop off family members or staff. The Department of Management Services (DMS) says the travel in question may have cost Florida taxpayers as much as $51,000, and raises some IRS concerns.

Sink said she has reimbursed the state for any personal use of the airplanes. McCollum's office has denied the claims, according to WMBB.

Sink told the Miami Herald she was the person responsible for having the state's aircraft logs put online for public inspection. She defended the use of the planes, saying it is "important to get around the state and talk to people outside of Tallahassee."

State law prohibits officials from using state aircraft for travel between Tallahassee and their homes in the state. A DMS says there is nothing to indicate that either official has violated that law, or rules governing the use if state aircraft.

Meanwhile, the chair of the state Senate Budget Committee has recommended the sale of one of the state's two planes. JD Alexander says that would eliminate the temptation to use them.

FMI: www.myflorida.com