Monday, February 28, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- State records indicate that South Carolina government spent nearly $5 million on cell phone calls in the first nine months of last year.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Monday that nearly a fourth of South Carolina's 67,000 employees have access to a government cell phone.

Daniel island Rep. Jim Merrill says House budget writers are looking at cell phone expenses as they grapple with a $700 million shortfall. Spokesman Rob Godfrey says Gov. Nikki Haley also is looking at cell phone expenses.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control has the most cell phones in service, with more than 1,500. Spokesman Thom Berry says most of those are assigned to nurses, restaurant inspectors and environmental workers who don't spend their day in the office.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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