NC governor nixes purchase of state jet

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s governor has canceled the state’s planned purchase of a $9 million passenger jet.

Officials are asking the plane’s manufacturer to return a $250,000 deposit.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Thursday that Gov. Mike Easley ordered the cancellation after reporters inquired about the Cessna Citation jet. Easley this week told state agencies to plan for a 3 percent budget cut.

The Commerce Department wanted the jet to carry prospective industrial prospects to sites in North Carolina. The department currently uses a King Air propeller-driven plane.

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