Dallas spent $804,000 on the Republican midterm event in September — much less than the $2.5 million estimate — but it remains unclear whether the host committee or national party will pay any of the public safety costs for hosting President Donald Trump’s event. 

Council member Maxie Johnson said this week that it’s “absolutely ridiculous and it’s somewhat disrespectful to our city” that Dallas hasn’t been paid for hosting the event. 

Before the convention, some City Council members questioned how the city was going to pay and if taxpayers would be left to pick up the tab. Mayor Eric Johnson, who spoke at the event, pledged taxpayers would not be left to cover the expenses, saying “these are tough times financially.”

Organizers expected 20,000 attendees but there was an ebb and flow of people at the American Airlines Center over the two days. Most seats only filled up when Trump was on stage, leaving several sections empty. 

The city’s records show the costs, too, weren’t as high as anticipated. 

First responders racked up the majority of the costs. The Dallas Police Department spent $661,000 and Dallas Fire-Rescue spent $119,600, said Kevin Oden, director of emergency management and crisis response in a memo Monday. 

Emergency management and crisis response had $6,635 in costs, and transportation and public works had $16,625. 

Oden said most of the expenses were already accounted for within department budgets. 

A private host committee raised $45 million and promised to help defray city expenses, though it did not say how much it would contribute or what it would cover.

City staff are working with Visit Dallas and the host committee on cost-recovery options, Oden said. No reimbursement agreement has been reached so far. Oden said those conversations are ongoing. 

Council member Johnson said it’s important the city be paid. 

“When people use our city and facilities, it comes with a deposit, and integrity says, ‘Pay your bill,’” Johnson said during a finance committee meeting Monday. “I’m just really uncomfortable, and I feel that this is wrong that this has not been rectified at this time.”