Taxpayers Footing Big Bill For Perry's Temporary Home

Texas Governor Rick Perry has spent almost $600,000 in public money during the past two years to live in the exclusive Estates Above Lost Creek subdivision in West Austin, according to records obtained by the Associated Press.

Perry moved into the home in the fall of 2007 so the governor's mansion could undergo repairs. Less than a year later, the mansion burned in a still-unsolved arson, and officials say it will take another two years to finish the reconstruction.

In the meantime, rent for the five-bedroom, seven-bath rental home costs more than $10,000 per month. The AP found that Perry has spent $130,000 in campaign donations to throw parties, buy food and drink, and pay for cable TV and a host of other services since he moved in. (There were no charges detailed for coyote deterrents.)

The records also show that Perry's state-paid expenses at the home include $18,000 for "consumables" such as household supplies and cleaning products, $1,001.46 in window coverings from upscale retailer Neiman Marcus, a $1,000 "emergency repair" of the governor's filtered ice machine, a $700 clothes rack, and a little over $70 for a two year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine.

Maintenance on the heated pool has cost taxpayers at least $8,400, and the tab for grounds and lawn maintenance has topped $44,000, the records show. All told, taxpayers have spent at least $592,000 for rent, utilities, repairs, furnishings and supplies since Perry moved in.

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By Jeff Beckham in News on May 17, 2010 1:56 PM 0 Comments

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whooo

Perry is taking our taxpayer money and giving it as a kickback to his political supporters in the disguise of rent.

Perrys to lease Barton Creek area house By W. Gardner Selby and Shonda Novak | Wednesday, September 26, 2007, 11:00 AM

Gov. Rick Perry and his wife, Anita, are moving next month to an exclusive Barton Creek area neighborhood while the Governor’s Mansion undergoes extensive renovations.

Spokesman Robert Black said Wednesday the family has lined up a lease on a three-story house at 8113 Hickory Creek Drive with a swimming pool, at a cost of $9,900 a month. The lease is for one year with the option to extend it month to month.

The house is owned by Murrell J. Campbell, whose daughter, Melinda Grace, is executor of his estate. Her husband, Guy Grace, has donated $2,500 a year to the governor’s campaign since 2005, Black said. Guy Grace also gave $2,000 to George W. Bush’s presidential campaign, online records state.

whoooo

Tea Party rally at Rick Perry's rental estate! We need to stop big government from wasting our hard earned tax money.

Elizabeth S.

I just keep contrasting this with what Huckabee did as governor of Arkansas while their mansion was being repaired: live in a triple-wide trailer. I admit I might be more willing to donate to the governor's mansion repair fund if Perry was humble enough to do something like that.

tim

Except why does the governor of Texas need a house in a suburb of the capitol in the first place? There are many rental homes within a couple miles of the capitol and within city limits that meet this criteria and that are cheaper.

This wouldn't be as big of an issue if the Republicans weren't constantly carping on government waste. That's a lot of waste and eliminating it only affects a couple people who don't have any inherent need. That's pretty much the definition of wasteful spending.

Jooley Ann

The rent ($10k/month totaling $240k for two years) is comparable to other properties of similar size and location -- so it is market value, and not inflated. Also, the location and cost of the house was reported at the time, and the governor's office response was that security was the main factor in selecting the property.

The story here is the other $360k of incidental spending.

Jeremy

Seriously though. Does the man really need seven bathrooms and special filtered ice?

b

i would be more than happy to fund rick perry's subscribtion to food and wine magazine. if he agreed to live in a tent.

tim

Only takes 400,000 extra voters to get rid of this clown. That's not a huge number.

brattpowered

I remember when this first came out and the anti-tax Texans had a fit. The governor's office came out with a statement along the lines of "This is TEXAS, we do things big. Yeeehaaa!" The mouthbreathers were satisfied.