Efforts to clean up the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Irene will charge a tab of $1.5 billion to taxpayers. The White House budget director released the estimate, which adds to $5.2 billion needed to mop up other disasters. The problem is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s funds are tight until Oct. 1, when the new budget kicks in.

The AP reports a Senate subcommittee is meeting today to go over a spending bill that covers disaster relief. The bill could potentially speed up some rebuilding projects that have been delayed due to budget constraints.

The federal aid figure doesn’t include the multi-billion dollar price tag that hit insurance companies.

White House preliminary estimate of Hurricane Irene is $1.5 billion in disaster relief [AP via Washington Post]

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