SPRINGFIELD (AP) — An auction of half of Illinois’ fleet of airplanes has had trouble getting off the ground. The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports only one of five planes had received an online bid as of Wednesday morning.
Bidders must meet a minimum price to purchase a plane. Former Gov. Pat Quinn said last year that Illinois planned to sell the planes and that the state could save as much as $7 million by cutting the fleet. Only two smaller planes were sold in a September auction on the state’s surplus equipment bidding website.
An Illinois Department of Central Management Services spokeswoman says Gov. Bruce Rauner is committed to selling the planes. The administration plans to look at other ways to get rid of them. The latest round of online bidding is scheduled to close Wednesday afternoon.
The state’s latest effort to sell off some of its airplanes isn’t finding many buyers. Only one of five planes up for sale has received an online bid so far. Former Governor Pat Quinn said last year that Illinois could save as much as $7 million by cutting the fleet. Governor Bruce Rauner says he’s committed to selling the planes.