Salaries aren't the only money that state legislators get.

They also get per diems for overnight stays, mileage reimbursements and expense accounts.

The Butler Eagle recently placed right-to-know requests for members of the state House and state Senate who covered Butler County in 2012-14. The 2014 legislative session finished in November, and there only are a few committee meetings now.

The House and Senate will reconvene Jan. 6.

Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-10th, had the highest total of expenses.

Between Oct. 15, 2012, and Oct. 15 of this year, he received $155,546 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses, in addition to his $84,012 annual salary. He also received a $2,315 per month health plan.

He noted that representatives from the western part of the state often have more per diem requests because they are further away from the capital in Harrisburg than representatives from the eastern half of the state.

For example, he said if he has a morning meeting in Harrisburg, he will have to travel the night before and spend the night. If a meeting in Harrisburg goes into the evening, he said he likely would spend the night.

“So, we're going to have an extra night's stay and extra travel,” Gibbons said.

Pay and expenses

The base salary for both representatives and senators is $85,300 as of this month.

Legislators with leadership positions, such as the majority leaders and caucus administrators, get higher salaries. Sen. Bob Robbins, R-50th, as Senate Republican caucus secretary, had a salary of $95,795. Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-8th, as House Republican caucus administrator, had a salary of $95,797.

Legislators are allowed to request per diems to cover lodging and food for session days if they live more than 50 miles from Harrisburg. They also can request per diems for non-session days if they have to do work related to committees they are on.

The per diem rate is $172 per day. However, for meetings and business in Philadelphia, the per diem rate is $259. Legislators also can receive a $52 per diem for days that do not include an overnight stay.

These rates are set every October by the IRS.

The state covers costs for expenses such as mileage, parking, office expenses, postage and office leases.

In the House, each representative gets a $20,000 account per year for basic expenses. Representatives also get a $2,300 account per month for office leases and equipment leases, and a $4,000 annual account for use of the House post office.

In the Senate, senators get spending accounts, but the office leases are handled through the Senate chief clerk's office, leading to expense reports with lower totals for senators than for house members.

The rate for mileage reimbursement is 56 cents per mile.

Additionally, retired legislators can receive pensions averaging more than $30,000 per year.

What officials get

Gibbons takes the full per diem rate. He leases an apartment in Harrisburg, which he said is simpler than staying in a hotel. He noted that renting an apartment is cheaper than staying in a hotel, but he still has to pay his rent during the months that he does not have to travel to Harrisburg much at all, so he said his expenses even out.

Gibbons is the vice chair of the Democratic Policy Committee, which he said is an active committee that requires some extra meetings and travel.

Unlike the other legislators, he posts his monthly reports on his website. He started doing it in 2008, to increase transparency. He said it has been useful for him to keep track spending.

“It's actually been helpful to me,” Gibbons said. “I think it's a good idea.”

Second with the most expenses among county legislators was Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th.

Between Oct. 15, 2012, and Oct. 15 of this year, he received $117,867 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses. He had a $1,873 health plan.

Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, received $114,761 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses between Oct. 15, 2012, and Oct. 15. of this year, and had a $2,315 monthly health plan. Rep. R. Lee James, R-64th, received $100,861 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses between Oct. 15, 2012, and Oct. 15 of this year, and had a $1,820 health plan.

Stevenson, who just retired, requested the least amount of money. Between Oct. 15, 2012, and Oct. 15. of this year, he received $70,237 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses. He had a $1,873 monthly health plan.

In the state Senate, Sen. Don White, R-41st, had the highest total.

Between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30 of this year, White got $82,804 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses. From July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, White's health plans cost $19,257.

In an e-mail, White said, “Anyone who has visited Harrisburg knows full well it is not a destination resort, and I limit my time there as much as possible. My travel and office operational expenses are restrained as much as my current role as chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee and the geographic size of the 41st District will allow.”

He said he works to keep costs as low as possible while fulfilling his duties. He said he did not vote for and refused to accept a pension increase, as well.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, received $47,385 in per diems and mileage reimbursement between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30 of this year. Hutchinson's report did not contain expense account information, and the Senate right to know office did not provide a health care report. Hutchinson takes per diems for stays in hotel rooms when he is in Harrisburg.

Hutchinson's website has a tab titled “It's Your Money,” where he discloses his salary, his use of per diems, mileage reimbursement and the cost of his office leases.

“I try to be as open as I can. It is the people's money, I do believe that,” Hutchinson said.

Robbins, who retired this month, received $42,090 in per diems, mileage reimbursement and expenses between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30 of this year. From July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, his health plans cost $19,257.

Sen. Randy Vulakovich, R-40th, received $38,029 in mileage reimbursement and expenses between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30 of this year. From July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, his health plans cost $19,257.

Vulakovich does not take the per diem rate, instead requesting the exact reimbursement for hotel stays.

Open payment figures

Salaries for legislators are public record and obtainable. However, unless a legislator posts their reports, the only way to obtain them is through a right-to-know request.

Due to redistricting, the county got two new members of the state house this year, Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-60th, representing Buffalo and Winfield townships, and Rep. Jim Marshall, R-14th, representing Jackson and Lancaster townships, and Evans City, Harmony and Zelienople.

It also gained one new senator this year, Elder Vogel, R-47th, who represents Jackson, Lancaster, Muddy Creek and Worth townships and Harmony, Portersville and Zelienople.

They were not included in this report, which focused on legislative districts that have been in the county for at least the past two years.

Robbins and Stevenson just retired, and the 50th Senate District no longer will include the county starting next year.

In addition to their salaries, members of the state Legislature receive per diems for overnight stays and food, reimbursement for travel and expense accounts. Here are the salaries and other expenses for legislators who represented Butler County for 2012-14:HouseRep. Dick Stevenson, R-8thAnnual salary: $95,797Expenses for 2012-2014: $70,237Health insurance: $1,873 per monthRep. Jaret Gibbons, D-10thAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $155,546Health insurance: $2,315 per monthRep. Brian Ellis, R-11thAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $114,761Health insurance: $2,315 per monthRep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12thAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $117,867Health insurance: $1,873 per monthRep. R. Lee James, R-64thAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $100,861Health insurance: $1,820 per monthSenateSen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21stAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $47,385Health insurance: no informationSen. Randy Vulakovich, R-40thAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $38,029Health insurance: $19,257 (July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014)Sen. Don White, R-41stAnnual salary: $84,012Expenses for 2012-2014: $82,804Health insurance: $19,257 (July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014)Sen. Bob Robbins, R-50thAnnual salary: $95,795Expenses for 2012-2014: $42,090Health insurance: $19,257 (July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014)SOURCES: State agencies