News Article:

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to St. Paul for the Minnesota GOP's annual Lincoln Reagan fundraising dinner is expected to come with a hefty price tag for local taxpayers. As progressives and counter-protesters gear up to voice their opposition to Trump's motorcade, the city is preparing to shoulder the costs of providing public safety services, just as it does for other high-profile events.

Unlike some cities that have attempted to recoup security expenses from the Trump campaign, St. Paul has made it clear that it will not be billing the campaign or the protesters for the related costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's press secretary, Jennifer Lor, emphasized that the city is accustomed to providing public safety services for a variety of events, including visits from current and former political figures and even international figures like the Dalai Lama.

In 2019, when Trump visited Minneapolis for a campaign event, the city faced a projected bill of approximately $530,000 for security measures, road closures, and related expenses. After negotiations with the Trump campaign and Target Center operator ASM Global, Minneapolis managed to secure only a partial reimbursement. ASM later agreed to compensate the city with $100,000, less than 20% of the total costs incurred.

In St. Paul, the exact cost of Trump's visit remains unclear, according to St. Paul police spokesman Mike Ernster. However, he emphasized that providing security for such events falls within the normal operations of police departments. For comparison, Vice President Kamala Harris' recent visit to St. Paul incurred security costs amounting to $7,717.

It is worth noting that St. Paul has previous experience handling significant events, such as the Republican National Convention in 2008. The city received a substantial $50 million federal grant to cover convention-related expenses, with a significant portion allocated to personnel costs.

Despite the attention that Trump's visit is likely to draw, reimbursement from the Trump campaign is unlikely, according to political science professor Larry Jacobs from the University of Minnesota. He stated that reimbursement is not typically on the table, even for presidential visits. Numerous cities, including El Paso and Wildwood, have struggled to secure reimbursement for security costs associated with Trump's appearances.

Trump's focus during his St. Paul visit is expected to center on economic issues, as he seeks to make Minnesota a battleground state. However, he also repeated the unproven claim that he won Minnesota in the 2020 election. Minnesota's significance in the upcoming elections will undoubtedly generate public interest in Trump's visit.

As St. Paul residents await Trump's arrival, concerns linger about the financial burden that local taxpayers will bear. While the city is accustomed to hosting various events, it remains to be seen how much of the bill will ultimately fall on the shoulders of St. Paul residents.

Overall, St. Paul citizens can anticipate their city gaining international attention but are unlikely to find any reimbursement for the costs incurred in facilitating Trump's visit.