Keeping Donald Trump safe: Palm Beach County seeks relief for nearly $7 million in taxpayer funds
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — After more than a month of checkpoints and sheriff's patrol cars snaking around the perimeter of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, Palm Beach County officials are calling for help to fit the bill.
In a letter signed by County Mayor Maria Sachs, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Town of Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore, they detail how the Sheriff's Office will have spent $6.8 million by heightening security for the "Trump detail." That accounts for the "extraordinary measures for security" required by the Secret Service ahead of the November election to protect the homes around Mar-a-Lago and Trump himself.
"I don't think we've ever had a situation where we have been in such a conflict-ridden campaign, where violence seems to be everywhere," Sachs said. "We just want to be sure that whatever extraordinary means are necessary to protect Trump as well as to protect any presidential candidate, including Vice President Kamala Harris, that those resources are here. ... Palm Beach County taxpayers can't do it alone."
These enhanced security measures began on July 20, and the nearly $7 million needed to sustain them will cap out by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. And without reimbursement from federal funds, taxpayers may be on the hook for the extra costs.
PBSO and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue have both had to beef up security, much of which necessitates overtime pay. Beyond establishing a presence along Southern Boulevard before the Mar-a-Lago mansion at all hours of the day, PBCFR "has been asked to provide additional protective measures during motorcades and other times ... primarily when the former president is in residence and while a local motorcade is mobilizing and in transit," according to the letter.
Extra protection also has been needed for visits from dignitaries to Mar-a-Lago, such as when Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 26, just days after the first assassination attempt of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The letter also requests help in offsetting traffic-related costs, including the efforts to reduce the impact of the road closures and security measures on drivers.
The letter also details how the Town of Palm Beach has financially suffered from the weight of the new security requirements.
Law enforcement and fire rescue resources add up to at least $3,600 a day, which could increase if Trump or one of his visitors is in the area. The Palm Beach Police Department also has to spend money on ensuring 24/7 staffing and responding to any demonstrations near Mar-a-Lago.
"Prior to July, we didn't have road closures in place. We didn't have participation in a command center," said Palm Beach Police Department spokesperson Will Rothrock.
Without the increase in security levels, Rothrock said the town would not have these costs.
"As you can see, our local governments are incurring significant expenses in safety and protective measures related to recent changes implemented by federal government agencies," the letter states.
The letter is addressed to the county's congressional delegation members, including Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and Reps. Lois Frankel, Brian Mast, Jared Moskowitz and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
"I received the letter from Palm Beach County regarding the overtime costs incurred while assisting the Secret Service in protecting the former president, and I am always thankful to the Palm Beach County law enforcement officers working to keep our community safe," Frankel said in an emailed statement. "I am working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to identify resources to support these efforts."
Sachs said she has received assurances from the congressional delegation that the necessary federal funds will be requested.
"I don't think it's a matter of whether they would do it. It's just a matter of when the monies will be coming into our budget to reimburse our security measures," she said.
In 2017, Congress enacted a Presidential Residence Protection Assistance grant, which reimbursed state and local law enforcement agencies for costs spent on protecting any non-government residence for a U.S. president. But now, a new law needs to be created, and Palm Beach County is seeking reimbursement until one is, whether or not Trump wins or loses this year's election.
"These extraordinary measures, these extraordinary means, do need to be taken care of by the federal government to reimburse our taxpayers," Sachs said.
