DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is flying less often during the recession.
An analysis of the Democratic governor's travel by The Denver Post shows Ritter has used state planes 23 times in the last fiscal year, which ended in June. The trips cost taxpayers $21,000. The year before, Ritter flew 28 times at a cost of $32,000.
The Colorado State Patrol operates five planes. Three are solely for law-enforcement purposes and two are for the use of approved officials.
The newspaper reported that between July 2008 and June, state agency and university officials spent a combined $115,000 on 115 state plane flights.
Many states are looking at cutting travel budgets as they face budget deficits. Some states have even considered selling airplanes.
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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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