State report to tally price of Minn. shutdown

Was Minnesota's 20-day government shutdown a money saver or budget drain?

The Department of Minnesota Management and Budget plans to answer that question Tuesday with a report detailing costs and savings during the July standoff.

The stoppage was prompted by a budget impasse between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and the GOP legislative majorities.

The shutdown idled 22,000 state employees, halted road work at the height of a short construction season, suspended lottery ticket sales and some services to the vulnerable and even interrupted the flow of alcohol to some bars.

The report was expected to analyze the amount saved from withheld paychecks versus revenues lost in other areas.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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