By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt says the state has saved around $10 million in travel costs, due to a policy he instituted three years ago.
It calls for employees to use state-owned vehicles or rentals whenever they are cheaper than reimbursements for personal vehicle use.
Blunt also says there's an easy way for state workers to know which option will cost less.
"There's actually an online tool that our state employees use, called the Trip Optimizer...they can go online, use the Trip Optimizer, and determine if they should use their own vehicle, or if they should use a state vehicle," Blunt said.
Blunt added that the state's mileage reimbursement costs have dropped 25 percent since 2005.
He also credits requirements to replace vehicles in the state fleet if doing so results in reducing the tax burden, and for at least 70 percent of replacement vehicles to be flex-fuel.