The Missouri State Highway Patrol has received a rating of “fair” in a recent audit performed by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. State Auditor Tom Schweich released results of the audit on Tuesday.

In the audit report, Schweich indicates the MSHP did not perform a formal written analysis to justify the need to purchase an additional airplane, or to purchase a new airplane instead of a much less expensive used airplane.

According to the report, the State of Missouri already operated 23 aircraft, including five passenger planes used primarily for employee transportation, the MSHP spent $5.6 million to purchase a new passenger airplane on Dec. 17, 2012. Usage records indicate the state was underutilizing its existing airplanes before the latest purchase.

In 2012, there were 159 days on which neither pressurized airplane flew and 113 days on which none of the state’s 5 passenger planes flew. Conducting a cost/benefit analysis before purchasing new or used airplanes would help the MSHP ensure the cost effectiveness of future purchases, the report said.

Other points raised in the audit:
*The MSHP does not have procedures to periodically observe school bus inspections performed by the MSHP and state inspection stations.

*The MSHP does not use the results of spot inspections to identify state inspection stations that may be performing inadequate school bus inspections. For school year 2011-2012, more than 25 percent of buses inspected during spot inspections failed, with nearly five percent having significant defects. The rate of defective and out of service buses may indicate school districts and/or school bus contractors are lax in the proper maintenance of school buses.