The City of Eugene is asking Donald Trump campaign for a reimbursement of almost $100,000 to cover the costs of overtime compensation for the rally in May.
Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns said the overtime expenses add up to $78,000 in a news release Wednesday afternoon. Kerns also included $6,800 overtime expenses for the Eugene-Springfield Fire, $4,500 for meals given to 170 officers and $3,000 for other costs.
“This is probably the highest cost of any campaign visit for which we’ve provided security,” Kerns said in the email. “The challenges were unique and unlike any we’ve seen.”
This announcement from the EPD comes just days after the Federal Election Commission reported the Trump campaign’s deteriorating funding do to high costs of travel and manufacturing of his famous “Make America Great Again” hats.
Although no arrests were made at the May rally, the threat of violence at the event required days of planning, which increased the overall costs, Kerns said.
About 100 officers, deputies and troopers from Portland, Springfield, Lane County, Multnomah County and the Oregon State Police volunteered their time at no cost to the city of Eugene during the rally, Kerns said.
Upon awaiting the response from Donald Trump campaign, the costs are being covered by vacancy savings in this year’s EPD budget, Kerns said.