The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation cost taxpayers up to $3.3 million in public service.
Much of the estimate reflects the expense of having scores of police officers from across the state converge on Harney County for more than a month for around-the-clock work. The cost to Oregon State Police alone stands at more than $1.2 million, the analysis found.
Another $788,500 paid for help from other police and government agencies that responded from outside the county – mostly sheriff’s offices that sent deputies to help patrol. That amount also included compensation for police officers from cities including Portland and Eugene and 911 dispatchers from places including Hood River.
The overall figure includes money to pay the wages of employees who couldn’t go to work – for instance, $425,000 for about 120 workers at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management who stayed home while their offices were closed.
(READ MORE: Oregon Live)
