Published: May 16, 2008 09:02 am         

Early costs for Eldorado raid nearly $7.5 million

AUSTIN — The raid on a West Texas polygamist sect began nearly $7.5 million in state spending during the first 19 days of what is now one of the largest child custody cases in U.S. history, a newspaper reported Friday.

The figures obtained by the Austin American-Statesman offer some of the first clues to the financial costs of the state's seizure of more than 400 children from the Yearning for Zion ranch near Eldorado last month.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry cautioned that the numbers, obtained through the Texas Public Information Act, are preliminary and unaudited. Perry's office has yet to release official cost totals.

Texas officials raided the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' ranch April 3, citing evidence that the sect has been marrying off underage girls to older men.

Money spent on the massive child welfare operation is expected to be the focus of a state Senate Finance Committee meeting Tuesday in Austin.

"Everyone recognized that resources were going to be necessary in order to achieve a fair outcome here," said state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, who serves on the committee and whose district includes the ranch.

Expenses have ranged from sheltering and feeding more than 460 youngsters in San Angelo to busing them to foster care around the state.

State agencies, including Child Protective Services, have incurred the bulk of the tab at $5.3 million. City and county government costs are about $1 million, as are vendor costs such as bus service.

The costs are likely to grow as CPS officials and the courts sort out whether the children can return to their parents.

Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick have authorized state agencies to spend money from their 2009 budgets early to cover costs of the operation. What remains unclear is how the agencies will be reimbursed.

One option is for agencies to tap into money left unspent at the end of the budget year. Another is for the Legislature to make an emergency appropriation at the beginning of the 2009 session.

City and county governments are submitting expenses to state agencies.

"We can't wash our hands from it — we're the ones who did it," said state Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville and another Senate Finance Committee member. "I hope it turns out it was the right thing to do."