South Carolina County Government Replaces All Paperwork With iPad2

Charleston County in South Carolina will be the first local government in the U.S. to replace all its paperwork with the iPad 2. The county expects a total savings of 50% off its normal paper and personnel costs of $27,000 each year.

The plan will involve buying 15 iPad 2's for its council members at a cost of $900 each.

I applaud their innovation, but why exactly are they buying iPad 2's at an 80% mark up? Then again, this fits the government stereotype of somehow always managing to spend more money than necessary.