The State - News from March 21, 1989

It cost taxpayers more than $51.8 million to run the state Senate during the 12-month period that ended Nov. 30, 1988, a 7.2% increase over the previous year. The 40 members of the upper house reported spending $18.6 million on their own office operations, $15.8 million on committees and research, $1.9 million for caucus and floor leader activities, and $15.5 million on general overhead and support services. For the second year in a row, Sen. Henry J. Mello (D-Watsonville) led other senators in office expenses with $715,280. Senators’ office expenditures covered such items as car leases, travel, district office space, employee salaries, telephones, postage, newsletters, office supplies, furniture and equipment.