DURHAM, N.H. — Town officials and community leaders reportedly are asking the Obama for America campaign for reimbursement of costs related to public safety services in place for the President’s scheduled visit to the community on Monday.
According to a statement released by Town Administrator Todd Selig Friday night, the town is asking the campaign for an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 for police and fire services.
“While pleased that the campaign has chosen Durham, a quintessential New England College community, as the backdrop for Monday’s scheduled campaign visit, community leaders do not believe that costs associated with the campaign should be borne by local taxpayers,” the statement reads.
The town has historically absorbed all costs related to public safety services required by the Secret Service during a presidential visit.
On Monday, Obama is expected to speak in the gymnasium of Oyster River High School at 55 Coe Drive in Durham. No details have been released pertaining to the content of his speech.
Since this is will be a campaign visit rather than a presidential one, the town has decided the campaign should absorb the expense instead of the taxpayers. Past campaigns have honored this practice for the costs, which are not budgeted and represent 25 to 30 percent of Durham’s budgeted public safety overtime costs for the fiscal year.
There has not yet been a resolution or agreement to cover public safety costs despite the town reaching out to the campaign over the last two days.
The town seeks a firm commitment from the Obama for America campaign to reimburse the community for these campaign-related costs and is hopeful the issue may be resolved over the weekend.
(c)2012 the Foster’s Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.)
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Stuff like this has always been a reimbursable from Secret Service back to the local Public Safety Agency’s and NH is no different. They also know this since this is a standard practice and steps for the reimbursement are very well known to all NH Town Manager’s since NH is the 1st State to have it’s primary and General Election votes fought over and counted. Durham’s doing this publicly so there own little GOP crybaby’s can say that they forced Obama to be financially responsible. Yeah, and when does Bernie Madoff get his checkboo back ?
What a waste of money…
Who reimburses the Secret Service for the money they pay local public safety agencies: the Obama campaign or taxpayers?
It’s a Presidential security issue that’s set by Secret Service and legislated under both the House and Senate Gov’t Operations Committee’s. It’s reviewed every year and passed. The reasoning for this was demonstrated back when George Wallace was running in Maryland and got shot due to a lack of local public safety support. No one wants to see that happen ever again. When Reagen got shot, this Presidential support is what got him to GW and the trauma surgeon’s inside of 10 minute’s. Saved ole’ Ronnie’s butt. And this comes with the Office of The President, Obama or Mitt regardless so quit crying and accept it as the price WE ALL have to pay for living n a free society. That or everyone that’s inside of a 50 mile radius of a visit has to turn in their gun’s for the day. Now, what makes more sense ?
I wonder… is “Mike Kiernan” this Mike Kiernan? If so, what’s he doing monitoring articles at the BDN?
Egad’s, I have a following, or a stalker ( :} ) !. I wait with baited breath for the next chapter………
So, are you? If you are, why would someone with no apparent links to Maine and a history of working professionally as a Washington, DC publicist for progressive causes be commenting here?
Busman’s holiday?
Thank you for answering my question, and I gave you a “Like” for that.
I asked the question because I wanted information, not because I was looking for an argument. The next time I ask you a question, try to answer it without being so whinging, paranoid, and patronizing.
There is a difference between a visit from a sitting president acting in their elected role, and a visit strictly for campaign purposes.
One should be absorbed by the town. The other? Not so much.
That goes for any candidate, any party.
Obama and financially responsible…hilarious!!!!
Good.
So, who compensates the citizens for the inconvenience these visits cause (e.g., just recently shutting down the subway in NYC during rush hour)? If Presidents can’t travel without disrupting everyone’s life, they should stay in Washington.
We charged him 36,000 for his visit here in Florida. $1 for every time he blamed Bush.
Speaking of which, the New York Times reports that “[A]t [a campaign rally in Tampa], the Secret Service made hundreds of guests give up their forks and knives before the president entered the room.”
Madness.
Edit: “Madness” doesn’t quite do it justice: ‘eerie Stalinesque paranoia’, maybe.
I assume (R)money would be required to do the same. Ha!
….
I wish the reporter had asked if the town required the republicans to pay for added costs during the recent primary season.
“Let them eat cake”
With their bare hands.
It’s still our tax dollars, you dumb a….