Va.‘s bill for Obama inaugural: $7 million

Virginia spent roughly $7 million on the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

But the state's hotels and motels took in an extra $28 million during the week surrounding the inauguration, compared with the same week last year, according to state tourism figures provided yesterday by the office of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

The reason? Hotels in Virginia represent 46 percent of the capacity in the Washington region. During the week of the inauguration, revenues per available room increased 108 percent, to $159.46 per room from $76.82 per room. That translated into an additional $28 million in room revenue.

Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey said figures were still being compiled regarding increased revenues from food sales and goods and services related to the inaugural influx, which deposited up to 2 million people into the nation's capital.

On the other side of the balance sheet, the state's largest expenditure was by the Virginia Department of Transportation, which accounted for $3.9 million -- some $2.5 million of which was spent on snow and ice removal on roads to speed traffic to Washington.

Just under $800,000 was spent on additional law enforcement provided by the Virginia State Police and $500,000 to provide free buses to shuttle inaugural attendees to rapid and mass transit.

State expenditures by locality were highest in the Washington suburbs: Arlington County ($370,548); Alexandria ($273,400); and Fairfax County ($602,000).

Hickey said Virginia has submitted its inaugural bill of $7,081,991.45 to the Department of Homeland Security.

"We fully expect to be reimbursed," he said.

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or .