Special session cost $574,000

Topeka ? The recent special session on education funding cost taxpayers nearly $574,000 to cover the Legislature’s expenses.

The figures, released Wednesday by legislative staff, show that the session’s biggest expense was lawmakers’ pay, amounting to more than $450,000. Although legislators were in session for 12 days from June 22 through July 6, they were eligible for salary and expense checks for all 15 days.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius called the special session to respond to a Kansas Supreme Court order requiring legislators to provide additional money to public schools.

“When you consider how much money was spent in the session on other things, I guess it was just the cost of doing business,” said House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka. “We regret that it cost money to run a special session, but there is a certain cost to democracy.”

Mays noted that the Legislature finished its regular session May 20 after 83 days, instead of the 90 scheduled. A shorter session saved about $430,000.

At a glance

Amount
Legislators’ Pay: $450,329
Staff Pay: $44,445
Printing: $38,158
Legislators’ Mileage: $36,503
Kansas Register Fees: $2,000
Security Officers’ Overtime: $1,870
Name Plates: $265
Water Coolers: $177
Total: $573,747

¢ The special session began June 22 and ended July 6.
¢ Though they were in session for 12 days, legislators were eligible for 15 days of pay.
¢ Legislators receive $82.12 in salary and $91 to cover expenses each day they are in session.
¢ The Kansas Register, issued by the secretary of state, is where state government publishes notices and new laws.
¢ Name plates were for senators, who met in the Old Supreme Court chamber because their chamber was under renovation. They are reusable.

Source: Legislative Administrative Services

And the session could have been even more expensive.

First, pay for legislative employees cost about $44,000, because most secretaries weren’t called back to Topeka.

Had the Legislature’s entire staff been involved, the state would have incurred an additional $15,000 in expenses each working day, according to Jeff Russell, director of legislative administrative services.

Second, 27 legislators gave up part of their pay, and Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, refused all of it, to save the state more than $13,000. Legislators receive $82.12 in salary and $91 to cover expenses each day they are in session.

Seven senators gave up part of their pay: Pat Apple, R-Louisburg; Roger Reitz, R-Manhattan; Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka; Laura Kelly, D-Topeka; Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick; Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka; and David Wysong, R-Mission Hills.

Twenty House members also did, including Virginia Beamer, R-Oakley; Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan; Barbara Craft, R-Junction City; Nile Dillmore, D-Wichita; Mario Goico, R-Wichita; Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan; Jerry Henry, D-Cummings; Don Hill, R-Emporia; Tom Holland, D-Baldwin, and Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center.

Also among them were Becky Hutchins, R-Holton; Annie Kuether, D-Topeka; Judy Loganbill, D-Wichita; Ann Mah, D-Topeka; Julie Menghini, D-Pittsburg; Frank Miller, R-Independence; Virgil Peck Jr., R-Tyro; Josh Svaty, D-Ellsworth; Mark Treaster, D-Pretty Prairie; and Jene Vickrey, R-Louisburg.