Minn. shutdown costs put at nearly $60 million

Published 10:22 am Tuesday, November 22, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota budget officials say a 20-day government shutdown in July cost the state nearly $60 million but saved it about $65 million in salaries that weren’t paid to state employees.

The report issued Tuesday says Minnesota lost almost $50 million in revenue. It estimated preparation costs at about $7 million and recovery costs at $3 million, and said those costs could rise.

But the state saved about $65 million in salaries that were not paid to about 22,000 state employees during the shutdown.

The shutdown came after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative majorities couldn’t agree on how to close a $5 billion budget shortfall.