The Cessna Citation Encore+ jet's price tag is normally $8,645,000. Options wanted by the state included a more than $17,000 Automatic Direction Finder System, a more than $17,000 upgrade to the interior and exterior of the plane, and more than $156,000 of "administrative fees". These options pushed the jet's price tag to $9,089,463.
The Governor's Press Office says the Department of Commerce is trying to get back a $250,000 deposit paid earlier this summer.
Just yesterday, Easley said he might have to order state agencies to cut their budgets by 2 to 3 percent because of the economic crisis.
The state currently owns three aircrafts: a jet, a turbo-prop plane and a helicopter. According to the Department of Commerce, the cancelled jet was supposed to replace the turbo-prop plane.
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