Former Missouri Governor’s Flights on State Plane ‘Did Not Appear Necessary’
Auditors said 58 of 174 state-plane trips lacked a clear business purpose, and the office spent $375,000 on flights without records.
- On Thursday, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released a closeout audit of former Governor Mike Parson's office, giving it a 'fair' rating—the second-lowest on the auditor's four-point scale.
- Spending $375,000 on 174 trips, the office failed to document the business purpose for 58 flights, often listing only 'Flight for Governor Parson' in official records without explanation.
- The report identified nearly $472,000 in improper transfers to cover other agency expenses and $28,058 in unauthorized compensatory time payments to top staff, violating state policy.
- Parson strongly disagreed with the 'so-called findings,' writing that none constitute unethical conduct and reflect 'differences in interpretation or perception—not wrongdoing.'
- Beyond travel concerns, auditors noted that official records including Parson's calendar and policy manuals remain missing and unlocatable, complicating verification of the administration's final months.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Hanford Sentinel
Lodinews.comFormer Missouri governor’s flights on state plane ‘did not appear necessary’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick couldn’t find a valid reason for a third of former Gov. Mike Parson’s use of state aircraft, according to an audit published Thursday. Fitzpatrick reviewed the governor’s office during the final…
State audit finds documentation gaps, policy violations in former Gov. Mike Parson's office
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new audit of former Gov. Mike Parson's office found insufficient documentation for hundreds of thousands of dollars in state travel expenses, unallowable employee payments and a lack of recordkeeping, leading Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to give the office a "fair" rating. The State Auditor's Office rates agencies on a four-point
Cherokee Tribune Ledger News
Audit finds former Gov. Mike Parson's state flights often lacked a public purpose
A review by the state auditor found no business purpose for a third of the former governor’s flights on state aircraft.
Missouri Independent
KRCGAudit finds former Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s state flights often lacked a public purpose
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson prior to the State of the State address on Jan. 24, 2024 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).Former Gov. Mike Parson’s office spent $375,000 flying him around on state aircraft without keeping flight records showing why, and for a third of those flights auditors could not identify any state business purpose. That finding anchors a closeout audit of the governor’s office released Thursday by State Auditor Scott Fitzp…
Parson used state plane for 50 flights home and vacation to Hawaii, audit says
Former Gov. Mike Parson used the state airplane for more than 50 trips to his hometown during his final two years in office, according to a new report by the Missouri auditor's office.
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