Patrol Merger Will End Up Costing State

The merger between the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri State Water Patrol was supposed to save money but may end up costing Missouri’s taxpayers. An audit of the water patrol merger by State Auditor Tom Schweich shows that the merger will cost the state taxpayers $2.7 million dollars a year, $1.8 million coming from increased retirement and health care costs. Schweich’s audit could not find $3,000 in boater education fees that was supposed to be transferred to general revenue. Twenty-eight boats valued at $250,000 are also warehoused with no future plans for use or disposal. Schweich says the boats should have been disposed of as surplus property but his office was told a miscommunication led to the delay in disposal. The full audit can be cound online at www.auditor.mo.gov.