Anchorage legislative session cost more than $103,000.

Byline: Kyle Hopkins

Jul. 29--Holding a special session in Anchorage last month cost the state at least $103,500, according to the head of the Legislative Affairs Agency.

Criticized for adjourning the regular session without renewing a program that gave cash payments to low-income seniors, legislators called the one-day meeting on June 26.

It was the first special session held outside of Juneau since statehood and lasted about seven hours, as the Legislature voted to extend and expand the payments for seniors.

Legislative Affairs Director Pam Varni said about half of the cost was for travel, such as airplane tickets and car rentals. The bill is still growing, she said, because as of Friday afternoon six lawmakers still hadn't submitted their expenses.

Legislators earned a per diem of $278 each. The money is meant to be used on meals and hotels, she said, and is a little more than legislators would get in Juneau.

Holding the session in Anchorage costs about $2,000 more per day for per diems, which are based on rates set by the federal government, she said.