A Facebook post says Mississippi taxpayers are paying more than ever for state government travel, vehicles and fuel, with spending climbing to roughly $25 million annually.
The post said that Mississippi outpaces similar-sized states such as Louisiana, Arkansas and Iowa by millions of dollars in these categories. It also said spending since 2015 has grown well beyond inflation and that purchases of new state vehicles have increased sevenfold.
The issue matters because state travel, vehicle and fuel spending is paid from taxpayer dollars and appears to be rising at a time many households face tighter budgets. State fleets include vehicles used by agencies for inspections, social services, maintenance and other public functions, and changes in fleet size and purchasing practices can affect both costs and service delivery.
The Facebook post called for greater transparency, accountability and stewardship of tax dollars and argued the state should curb growth in these expenses. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
