Unpaid Bills From Flooding, Ebola May Cost State $29M
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers are looking to spend $29 million to cover cost overruns at state agencies.
The unpaid bills range from $9.6 million from last summer's flooding to $891,000 for the Minnesota Department of Health's Ebola preparations. It also includes $1.5 million for the Minnesota Zoo, where officials say they may need to shutter exhibits and lay off staff without an emergency cash infusion.
The spending was outlined in a bill introduced in the Senate Tuesday. A scaled-back package introduced in the Republican-controlled House last week would spend $12 million.
Gov. Mark Dayton has called on lawmakers to swiftly approve a relief package for severe summer flooding.
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