Posted on 07/06/2009 10:29:46 PM PDT by kcvl
MERCED, Calif. – The final price of the University of California, Merced's commencement ceremony featuring first lady Michelle Obama was more than $1 million — surpassing the original estimate tenfold.
Private contributions and interest on a private endowment fund have helped cover the cost. UC spokeswoman Patti Waid Istas said that nonstate dollars and other contributions will be used to cover the remaining balance of around $362,338.
The school had budgeted $100,000 for the May commencement ceremony. The price tag ended up being $1.04 million.
The address attracted about 12,000 visitors, requiring additional transportation, audiovisual and multimedia needs and other items. Obama was neither paid for her appearance nor compensated for travel and security.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Just Dog!
What are they doing? Carrying Michelle around on a gold pillow?
They left off that taxpayers were not reimbersed for the expenses incurred for Obama's travel and security.
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