COLUMBIA -- The University of South Carolina Aiken had the 37th highest travel expenditures out of 110 public institutions and government agencies, according to a report released today by South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom's office.
USC Aiken spent $278,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30. The total includes $67,000 for in-state travel, $166,000 for out-of-state travel, including domestic and any foreign travel, and $45,000 for transportation, mileage, lodging, meals and other legal charges for contract workers.
The top spender for USC Aiken was Vice Chancellor Suzanne Ozment, who spent $1,200 for in-state travel and $5,800 for out-of-state travel. Her total was closely followed by Chancellor Thomas Hallman and Dean Lynne Ball, according to Eckstrom's report.
Agencies with travel expenditures comparable to USC Aiken were York Technical College, Denmark Technical College and the Forestry Commission. Clemson University, ranked No.1, spent $9.8 million.
The South Carolina Conservation Bank had the lowest travel expenditures, totaling just $791.
The USC system's explanation for its expenses as expressed in the report were "for the purpose of academic enrichment, research, student programs and recruitment, donor development, and professional development."
Eckstrom's own office ranked 108th at about $1,500.
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Tom Hallman needs to remember what it was like when we were at Chicora High School riding the bus to Beaufort for a game, eating hamburger steaks at the diner with the folding chairs and thinking it was the bigtime.