Florida taxpayers pay up: Redistricting Special Session cost $651,000

Florida’s budget stalemate cost taxpayers more than $651,000.

That’s how much the Florida Legislature spent to hold a June Special Session to pass a new budget. Legislators were forced to hold a Special Session because the House and Senate had a bitter disagreement over health care spending during the regular session held in the spring. The House abruptly adjourned three and a half days early because of the standoff.

The June special session is the most expensive Special Session in the past 15 years, according to records compiled by the Florida Senate. An October 2009 Special Session cost more than $308,000.

But Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner, pointed out that the June Special Session was also the longest Special Session during that time period. Betta noted the average daily cost was actually cheaper than three other Special Sessions.

Republished with permission of the Associated Press.