Trump's Dubuque visit cost city, county taxpayers more than $60,000

President Donald Trump's Nov. 1 visit to Dubuque cost city and county taxpayers more than $60,000, KCRG reported Thursday. The city of Dubuque and Dubuque County said they will not try to recoup the cost. Trump spoke at a rally at the Five Flags Center on Sunday, Nov. 1, two days before the midterm elections. The city estimated the visit cost it more than $51,000, with staff across the Engineering, Fire, Police and Public Works departments working security and traffic control and staffing Dubuque Regional Airport and the Five Flags Center. The Dubuque County Sheriff's Department also helped with traffic control and security, and Sheriff Joe Kennedy expects the county will pay more than $10,000 in overtime and benefits from the rally. The visit netted the Dubuque Regional Airport about $48,000. When the U.S. Secret Service met with city staff to request help with security and traffic control, the city was told it would not be compensated, Dubuque Communications Director Randy Gehl told KCRG. Gehl said the city recognizes that is standard procedure with presidential visits and understands it is the hosting community's responsibility to ensure public safety and keep traffic and rights of way clear. Kennedy said political candidates visiting the community do need to pay local jurisdictions for security and traffic control, but he pointed to a presidential 'privilege' for events such as the Nov. 1 visit. 'We never get paid,' Kennedy said. 'It wouldn't matter if the president was Republican or Democratic, we never get paid back for those from anybody.'