Trip expenses travel upwards at majority of South Carolina agencies

COLUMBIA -- Despite state budget cuts that have curtailed services and furloughed workers, more than half of state agencies that reported travel expenses last month increased their spending compared to October 2007, according to records maintained by the state's comptroller general.

Most of the 37 agencies, commissions and committees that spent more on travel in October did so by double digits, and some raised travel spending by 100 percent or more, according to an analysis by The Greenville News.

Four agencies -- the Commerce Department, Educational Television, the Arts Commission and the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department -- posted expenses for traveling outside the country in October, according to the records. All but 19 of the 73 agencies reporting travel expenses posted out-of-state travel spending in October, records showed. read more...