You’ll recall that it was recently reported that government employees racked up some $30 million-plus in air travel last year. Well, in response to our public records request in that regard, Greg Smith of the Purchasing Division of Nevada’s Department of Administration has forwarded to me the master summary of Southwest Airlines’ travel reports for each of the state government’s major departments for the month of May 2007. And boy, does this report ever raise some questions…
1.) It has been stated that air travel costs were higher than normal last year because the Legislature was in session in Carson City from roughly January through June. But if that’s true, then why does the vast amount of travel originate in Reno and end in Las Vegas. You’d think people would be flying IN to Reno to get to Carson, not the other way around.
2.) It appears that for most departments, government employees are purchasing full-fare tickets. Why? I can certainly understand *some* last-minute trips, but you’d think most travel could be anticipated and 7-day advance purchase fares could be had. Why are Nevada taxpayers paying through the nose for full-fare tickets?
3.) In most cases, it appears these airline tickets are being purchased by one master credit card for each department. That would seem to indicate that the department is racking up a lot of frequent flyer passes. If so, who is getting them? Is there a master frequent flyer account for each department, or are employees entering their personal frequent flyer number when making reservations?
4.) I’m told that when the State of Nevada and Southwest Airlines had an agreement for government employees to fly at a discounted rate, part of the agreement was that no frequent flyer awards would be offered. OK, fine. But that agreement ended a few years ago. Now it appears Nevada taxpayers are paying full-price for air travel again. So if we’re NOT getting frequent flyer awards…why the heck not?
5.) And the biggest question of all is still: Why are government employees, in this day of email and teleconferencing, jetting around the state so much?
I feel more public records requests coming on…
Posted on May 9th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
I congratulate you on this investigation; looks like it will be quite revealing. Gee, anyone go to Vegas on a Friday and come back to Reno on Monday?
Too, I suggest you square the flights with per diem requests…are there too many per diem requests for the number of days or parts of days, away from the office?
Chuck-moot,
Did it ever occur to you that legislators have families to visit and lives to live on the weekends in LV during the session? A lot of things never occured to you that probably should have. You are an amazingly ignorant person. You don’t investigate your stories; your stories are always one-sided; the sources you use are unreliable; you have no class; it is amazing that you able to live this long being as stupid as you are.