Blunt - Inauguration cost $250,000

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The tab for Gov. Matt Blunt's inauguration came to $249,466, about a quarter of what his predecessor spent, according to figures the governor released Tuesday.

Blunt said his inaugural committee raised $260,832, most of it coming from 10 companies based in Missouri or with operations in the state. No taxpayer money was used for inauguration festivities.

By contrast, Gov. Bob Holden's inauguration in 2001 cost $1.04 million, $125,000 of which was taxpayer money.

"My challenge was to have an inauguration that demonstrates the values of Missourians," and one of those values is frugality, Blunt said during a news conference at Trautwein Elementary School in south St. Louis County.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. and SBC donated $50,000 each for Blunt's festivities. AmerenUE, DaimlerChrysler, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Leggett & Platt Inc. donated $25,000 each. Kansas City Power & Light gave $10,000; Missouri Employers General Agency donated $4,000. Kansas City Life Insurance Co. and the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow gave $1,000 each.

Another $24,832 was raised through inaugural invitation purchases by members of the General Assembly.

Holden's inauguration included fireworks, souvenir golf balls, even a gala hosted by actor Tony Randall. It proved to be costly both in terms of money and public relations. Holden spent months repaying the debt.

Blunt's inauguration was noticeably more low-key, featuring the Jerry Ford Orchestra, led by a former state lawmaker from Cape Girardeau. Republican consultant John Hancock's firm was in charge of inauguration festivities.

Blunt spoke at the grade school because he is donating the $11,366 in unused inauguration donations to a tsunami relief effort spearheaded by the Mehlville School District. Students at Trautwein and elsewhere in the 11,500-student district sold T-shirts, raising $14,500, which, along with Blunt's check, will go to the Red Cross.

"It became a human experience on how we can help each other," Mehlville superintendent Tim Ricker said. "We can teach young people to do good for mankind."