Legislative Special Session Cost Nearly $1M

The two special sessions held as lawmakers struggled to agree on a state budget cost more than $886,000.

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Legislative Affairs Agency finance manager Jessica Geary expects the vast majority of claims have been submitted though some still could come in.

The figure doesn’t include the cost of extending the regular session by eight days. Geary says her agency only has the daily allowance cost for lawmakers for that period, about $105,700.

Legislators went into overtime after failing to reach a budget deal. The special session called for Juneau by the governor featured an 11-day break in floor sessions amid the stalemate during which lawmakers scattered and hearings were held in Anchorage.

Lawmakers then called their own special session for Anchorage, citing Capitol renovation work. It lasted three weeks.

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