Audit results reflect big costs coming for state of Missouri

Intro:	An effort to save money by consolidating two state agencies will actually cost taxpayers even more.
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Wrap: The state audit report found the merger of Missouri's Water and Highway patrols will cost the state almost 1-point-8 million dollars.

After the merger, many Water Patrol workers switched to Highway Patrol due to its better retirement policy.

It is this transition that is driving up the cost and Deputy State Auditor Harry Otto says the companies should have factored this possiblity into their decision.

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Description: "We say they should provide complete and accurate information concerning the fiscal impact and they should give that complete information to the various entities that are doing the research as to whether this is a good move or not."

Although state auditors do say a merger like this makes it easier to react to natural disasters.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Woolf.

Intro:	A merger between two state agencies said to save money will now cost the taxpayers even more.
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Wrap: While the goal of consolidating Missouri's Highway and Water Patrols was to save money, the merger actually will cost the state almost 1-point-8 million dollars.

The rise in cost is due to water patrollers switching to highway patrol to get better retirement policies.

Deputy State Auditor Harry Otto says the consolidation of the two agencies did provide more manpower for responding to the Joplin tornado.

But he says he's still not sure the benefits outweigh the costs.

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Description: "They couldn't have done that had they been two separate organizations, but combining themselves into one organization they were more easily able to react. But we don't know how to put a dollar value on that."

Otto also says the state and agencies should have been more careful in calculating the costs of this decision.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Woolf.

Intro:	Taxpayers will have to pay more after the consolidation of two state agencies.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The merging of Missouri's Water and Highway patrols was supposed to save money, but now will cost the state almost one-point-eight million dollars.

After the merger, many Water Patrol workers switched to Highway Patrol due to its better retirement policy.

When asked if the merger was a good idea in the end, Deputy State Auditor Harry Otto said...

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Description: "That's a fair question and we had the same question."

We being fellow state auditors who say they wonder if the benefits of this merger will end up outweighing the costs.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Woolf.