The Minnesota Republican Party is slowing paying back counties around the state for the cost of gathering voter information during the recount in the governor's race.

Counties charged the party for copying costs as documents were gathered for the recount. In many cases, there were demands for expedited action that kept county clerks racing in early November.

Since then, many counties have complained that they weren't being paid, but Don Davis of the Fargo Forum reports that GOP officials say the check is in the mail:

“We have about 20 counties left to go,” GOP Chairman Tony Sutton said. “We have been chipping away on them.”

 Sutton estimated that the party could finish paying its recount bills within four weeks. He said about $20,000 remains to be paid.

 “It is about managing all the bills we have,” Sutton said.

Davis notes that after an election, contributions to political parties typically slow down, and the GOP spent lots on the recount that didn't change the results of the governor's race. DFLer Mark Dayton still beat GOPer Tom Emmer.