Maryland lawmakers are scheduled to return to Annapolis on August 3 for a three-day special legislative session aimed at considering a constitutional amendment that would alter the state’s congressional redistricting process. Despite the session’s significance, state officials have not released an estimate of its expected cost to taxpayers.

Special sessions in Maryland have previously varied widely in expense. Shorter sessions have cost as little as a few thousand dollars per day, while longer meetings have reached nearly half a million dollars. For example, a one-day special session last December, focused on overriding vetoes, reportedly cost between $2,500 and $5,000 per day. In contrast, a 21-day session in 2007 incurred expenses of approximately $475,000. Another event in May 2012 averaged about $9,800 daily.

Maryland’s general fund, largely supported by state tax revenue, covers these expenditures. Although such amounts are relatively small compared to the state’s multibillion-dollar budget, some experts emphasize the importance of public transparency regarding the costs before lawmakers convene.

Anirban Basu, chairman of Sage Policy Group, argued that withholding cost estimates prevents voters from fully assessing whether the expense is warranted. He highlighted potential competing priorities such as funding for schools, suggesting that taxpayers might prefer spending diverted to education resources like books and security over legislative sessions. Basu also questioned if additional costs beyond security, such as consultant fees or increased legislative staffing, would contribute to total expenses.

Conversely, others note that accurately projecting costs in advance can be difficult due to the variable nature of staffing and operational needs during short special sessions. JP Krahel, an accounting professor at Loyola University, pointed out that many government employees work overtime without a fixed budget allocation, making it challenging to specify upfront costs. Krahel also anticipates that operational expenses, including hourly wages for state workers, could raise the overall price.

Daraius Irani, vice president of business and engagement at Towson University, suggested that a reasonable estimate could be derived by extrapolating the average daily cost of a standard 90-day legislative session and applying it to the planned three-day meeting. He emphasized that while cost transparency is beneficial, voters might prioritize the outcomes of the session more than its financial impact, given its potential to shape Maryland’s electoral landscape.

Lawmakers do not receive additional pay for special sessions but are reimbursed for meals and lodging incurred during the meetings. State officials, including Senate President Bill Ferguson, Governor Wes Moore, and House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk, were contacted for comment on the anticipated costs but did not provide responses prior to the session’s convening.