<\/p>\n
Chad West, chair of the City Council’s finance committee.<\/p>\n
El\u00edas Valverde II\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Three weeks before President Donald Trump brings Republicans to Dallas for a\u00a0party convention<\/a>, city officials still have not publicly said what the event could cost taxpayers or who would repay the city.<\/p>\n Now, the chair of the City Council\u2019s finance committee is pressing for answers.<\/p>\n Council member Chad West has requested a briefing on city spending and preparations for Trump\u2019s Sept. 9\u201310 midterm convention and rally at the American Airlines Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The request adds urgency to questions about the financial arrangements for an event expected to require extensive police, security and other city resources.<\/p>\n City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has said the city\u00a0expects reimbursement<\/a>, but she has not identified who would provide it, how much Dallas could recover or whether the city could be left with part of the bill.<\/p>\n City officials did not respond Wednesday to The Dallas Morning News’ request for comment. West\u2019s office said officials are expected to outline details in a memo to the finance committee next week.\u00a0<\/p>\n The debate over Dallas\u2019 role goes beyond costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n During public comment at Wednesday\u2019s council meeting, Stephanie Drenka of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, who is involved with the Save Dallas City Hall organization, criticized city leaders for welcoming the convention rather than challenging the Trump administration.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Dallas needs is leaders with a backbone to hold this administration accountable for its unfettered, inhumane policies and protect the people who elected you to serve,\u201d Drenka said. \u201cPut constituents before capital gain.\u201d<\/p>\n Republicans have defended the convention as a celebration of Trump\u2019s record and a way to promote the party’s candidates and build support before the November elections. Unlike a national nominating convention, the event will involve no official party business.<\/p>\n At the meeting, council member Adam Bazaldua pressed for an update on whether Dallas would be reimbursed for police costs related to the Republican gathering.<\/p>\n \u00a0City Council member Adam Bazaldua.<\/p>\n Steve Nurenberg\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Assistant Police Chief Mark Villarreal said no reimbursement agreement has been finalized. The city is working with the federal government and Secret Service, and he said there is \u201cpotential for reimbursement money\u201d to cover costs of securing event sites.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Dallas has a separate agreement with the U.S. Capitol Police that covers police costs for certain dignitary-protection operations, Villarreal said.<\/p>\n But, he said, \u201cWe\u2019ve got to secure the event regardless if we\u2019re getting reimbursed or not.”<\/p>\n He said the responsibility would be the same for a Democratic convention or any other large event. Police would use overtime or on-duty officers, depending partly on whether federal reimbursement is available, he said.<\/p>\n Cost questions<\/p>\n The council members’ push came as the Dallas 2026 Host Committee announced this week that it had raised $45 million<\/a> in private contributions for the convention.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The nonprofit committee said the money will help support businesses, defray local government costs and put on a safe event.\u00a0<\/p>\n Committee co-chair Ray Washburne, a local developer, did not provide a breakdown of how the funds will be divided among those purposes or say whether they will cover the city\u2019s full costs.<\/p>\n Private financing has not always spared the city from political convention expenses.<\/p>\n After Dallas hosted the 1984 Republican National Convention, the city was left responsible for about $1.4 million in what was classified as \u201cindirect\u201d costs, mostly for security and equipment. Civic leaders had touted it as a \u201cfree enterprise\u201d convention financed with private money, according to\u00a0previous news reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n When Dallas pursued the 2016 Republican National Convention in 2014, Mayor Mike Rawlings said no city tax money would be used. Mayor Eric Johnson has made no comparable pledge so far for the September convention.<\/p>\n Preparations for the GOP event are already accelerating, with more than 20,000 people expected to attend. Dave Brown, the arena\u2019s general manager, said Republican organizers have booked the American Airlines Center for 15 days, beginning Sept. 1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chad West, chair of the City Council’s finance committee. 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