With the upcoming presidential election, Wisconsin cities like Green Bay and Eau Claire are seeking reimbursement from presidential campaigns for the high costs associated with their visits, according to Wisconsin Watch.
These costs include public safety, operational support, and police overtime. While the Biden campaign has said it has paid for its stops, the Trump campaign reportedly has not reimbursed Wisconsin cities since 2016.
Green Bay recently incurred nearly $33,400 in costs for a Trump rally in April, which the Trump campaign refused to pay, claiming that the U.S. Secret Service, not the campaign, coordinates with local law enforcement. For its part, the Secret Service said it does not have responsibility to pay such bills. Green Bay also invoiced President Biden’s campaign $7,000 for a visit by First Lady Jill Biden, which was promptly paid.
Other cities, like Eau Claire and Oshkosh, have also struggled with unpaid invoices from past campaigns. Efforts to pass legislation requiring upfront payments from campaigns have failed. Municipalities are stuck between ensuring public safety and managing their budgets, as campaigns often ignore payment requests.
