Gov. Mark Sanford's recommendation that state government employees cut travel expenses will save the state money and, as the governor noted, help create a different culture for spending public money.
Mr. Sanford pointed out that requiring economies in travel will help alter the mindset of the public employee who believes, "If it's not my money, I don't have to worry about it."
While the governor's suggestion that doubling up in hotel rooms will remain optional, state employees should be required to limit hotel expenditures, based on existing guidelines.
That suggestion was made as long ago as 1992 by the Legislative Audit Council, along with a variety of other travel-related savings. The LAC suggested that state government limit employees to lodging rates for the federal government published annually by the General Services Administration.
As noted in our report on Wednesday, the allowable lodging rate for federal employees visiting Columbia on official business is $65 a night. But one state agency, the Department of Mental Health, spent as much as $159. DMH, incidentally, is among those state agencies most strapped for cash during the state's current budget problems.
Other recommendations made by the LAC included requiring in-state conferences in the city where most conferees reside, having state officials contract for discount rates on airline travel, and having state employees use frequent flyer miles obtained through official travel on the state's behalf.
A follow-up review of that audit in 1993 found that few recommendations had been enacted. Some of the suggestions were reiterated in another LAC report last year that included a review of travel by the state Commerce Department employees.
The governor has set the example himself, reducing his own travel expenses by a stunning 84 percent since he took office. The dollar figure has declined from $12,249 top $1,996 in just six months. Mr. Sanford's frugality was well known when he was the 1st District congressman, and he is still pinching public pennies.
Surely state officials can manage a 15 percent cut, as Mr. Sanford has suggested. With a travel budget of around $25 million, the savings could be considerable. Meanwhile, the administration should look at previous recommendations from the audit council that would routinely limit the cost of travel when taken at the public's expense.
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