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State legislators saddled taxpayers with a $900,000 annual bill

What began as an idea to save taxpayer money has turned in to an expensive lesson in state politics.
State Auditor Tom Schweich says the merger of the State Water Patrol and the State Highway Patrol will cost Missouri $900,000 each year, despite promises that the deal would save the state money.
In a summary, Schweich’s office concludes that “although the state will save some money from cutting support staff, not filling vacancies and terminating a lease, the merger will cost the state nearly $1.8 million more in increased retirement and health care costs each year.”

The Missouri Legislature passed a bill at the end of the 2010 session that allowed the patrols to merge. At the time, the state Department of Public Safety estimated savings of $3 million a year.

Schweich’s audit found that $2.4 million in savings claimed by the Department of Public Safety from reassigning officers actually just moved the officers’ salaries from one budget item to another.

The state audit of the Water Patrol also found about $3,000 missing from boater education fees. In April, Ruth Tiefenbaum, of St. Joseph, was arrested and charged with felony stealing in the case. The audit said lax accounting procedures allowed the theft to go undetected at first.
Also in the audit Schweich criticized the Water Patrol for maintaining 28 surplus boats in a warehouse
with no clear plans for their use or sale.

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