| Running in NYC News From the Presidential Campaign,
Updated Daily
3/10/04 RNC Costs
NEW YORK (AP)--The New York City police department's security costs at this summer's Republican National Convention could climb to $65 million,
far higher than the city's previous estimate, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Tuesday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration had said the city would spend $22 million for police protection, plus $5 million for insurance and
sanitation for the convention, to be held at Madison Square Garden from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.
The federal government has agreed to provide the city with $25 million for security costs.
"The police department expenses are, and again these are soft numbers, are like $60 million, $65 million, I think was the total expense," Kelly
told reporters after testifying before a City Council committee.
Kelly testified that the expenses include special training for some 6,000 officers, new surveillance cameras, 300 motorized scooters for
officers and special portable barricades capable of stopping trucks that will ring the Garden.
"Overtime," Kelly said, "is going to be a significant amount for us."
The convention's total budget is $91 million, including all security costs, according to an agreement between the Republican National Committee
and the host committee.
The $64 million raised by the host committee has been designated for costs such as a podium, an entrance carpet at the Garden, renting the
space and transporting delegates.
Bloomberg spokesman Ed Skyler declined to comment.
Boston, which hosts the Democratic convention in July, has estimated security costs at $40 million. It also has been allotted $25 million by
the federal government for security.
Hours later, police spokesman Paul Browne said security costs would be about $47 million, still far more than previous estimates. Browne said
Kelly had misspoken.
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