Legislature seeks $18 million for2015 session

The legislation that will fund operation of the 2015 Legislature asks for $18 million from the state General Fund.

Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Rick Combs said that compares with the $15 million in the original bill that paid for operation of the 2013 Legislature. But Combs said that was added too late in the 2013 session with another $3 million.

He said that means this session’s projected General Fund cost will be the same as two years ago. He said he just decided to ask for the money all at once this time.

Combs said that doesn’t necessarily mean LCB will spend all the money. He said they will adjust the General Fund draw downward by whatever they are able to draw from the Legislative Fund.

The total cost of the 2013 session was just over $21 million — $18 million from the General Fund and the rest from the Legislative fund.

“We’re trying to keep the session as flat as possible,” he said.

Combs said the operation of the Legislative branch will cost about $62.2 million over the next two years, a 3.7 percent increase over the current two-year appropriation.

He said that doesn’t include any pay raises for lawmakers who, he said, don’t get a raise unless state workers get a pay hike.