Key Takeaways:
– Several cities across US claim Trump’s campaign has not yet made payments for previous rally expenses.
– The unpaid debts reportedly range from $25,737.32 in Prescott Valley, Arizona to $569,204.63 in El Paso, Texas and $208,935.17 in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
– The payments mainly cover local police overtime, security costs, and other expenses directly related to Trump’s visits.
– These unpaid bills reportedly strain local budgets, with taxpayers bearing the burden.
– The issue has escalated to the point that some locations demand prepayment from the Trump campaign for future events.
Campaign Dues: An Issue that Costs Taxpayers
Have you ever organized a party and when the time came to pay, your friend just smiled and walked out? Imagine that on a much larger scale! That’s what’s happening with former U.S. President Donald Trump and his campaign rallies. Cities across the country assert Trump’s campaign hasn’t paid expenses tied to these rallies, including security costs and police overtime.
Unsettled Bills and Strained Local Budgets
Take Prescott Valley, Arizona for example; city officials claim to be on the receiving end of a $25,737.32 bill that the Trump campaign has not cleared.
But that’s not the only city impacted. The issue stretches further afield to El Paso in Texas. Here, the former President’s rally in 2019 resulted in an outstanding debt of $569,204.63. Despite hiring a law firm to recover the dues, the city hasn’t seen any success yet. According to city officials, the majority of that bill is earmarked for the police department in return for their extra duties during the rally.
Not too far north in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the Trump campaign owes the city $208,935.17. This unpaid amount covers the overtime wages for first responders and the costly re-alignment of road construction to pave way for Trump’s motorcade during a rally.
Cities Demand Prepayment
This issue has grown so rampant that some places are demanding prepayment before they permit any more Trump rallies. They argue that local communities shouldn’t have to foot the bill when they’re already dealing with their own budgetary concerns.
Impacts on Local Budgets and Taxpayers
The real sting is that these unpaid bills don’t just disappear. When Trump’s party doesn’t pay up, guess who does? The taxpayers. These unpaid expenses burden local budgets, and it is the regular taxpayers who have to cover them. This means the money that could have been put towards something like schools or parks, ends up patching up the hole left by these campaign cost debts.
Moreover, the largest chunk of these expenses is generally linked to security and overtime pay. These are fees that arise directly due to Trump’s visit, and they can quickly run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Silent Media and the National Purse
So what’s the media saying about this? Nothing much really. Despite the significant burden it places on taxpayers and local budgets, the issue remains overlooked. Trump’s presidential race seems to be leaving some cities financially stressed, simply because of unpaid bills.
In Closing
When Trump comes to town, it can be quite the spectacle with cheering crowds and fiery speeches. But in its wake, cities are claiming to be left with unpaid bills, budgetary stress, and frustrated taxpayers. As this issue continues to grow, local governments ask for nothing more than fair play – for campaigners to pay their own way. After all, isn’t that only fair?