Extended Holiday Weekend For Kansas State Employees Comes At A Price

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' decision to give thousands of state employees an extra day off today -- thus extending the Independence Day holiday weekend -- isn't coming

Monday, July 3rd 2006, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' decision to give thousands of state employees an extra day off today -- thus extending the Independence Day holiday weekend -- isn't coming cheap.

Her executive order will cost the Sunflower State about $519,000. That's because some employees will have to work despite the order and will be paid premium holiday pay.

Neighboring states weren't all as generous this weekend.

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt did not declare today a holiday, but last year, he followed a 45-year-old state tradition and gave employees the day after Thanksgiving off.

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry also has workers reporting to the office today. But his spokesman, Paul Sund, says he expected work to be minimal.

But Sebelius wasn't the nation's only governor giving employees a four-day weekend. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine also are giving state workers an extra day off.