BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Expense numbers are in from President Donald Trump’s Merry Christmas rally in Battle Creek, and it was not cheap.
On Wednesday Battle Creek city officials announced they will be seeking reimbursements for approximately $93,000.
95% of that total is mainly staff costs including members of the fire department, police department, city building maintenance, public works department, as well as staff members at the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field and other transit employees.
The other less than 5% of the total was from translating the city’s logistical information into Spanish and Burmese and other supplies like concrete blocks, barricades, and city vehicle use.
In their statement city officials also added that the total expenses do not include staff salaries who participated in planning the rally and the day-of activities.
The $93,000 in city costs is separate than the price of Kellogg Arena, where the rally took place on December 18th, even though it is owned by the city.
Officials say because the Cereal City Development Corporation operates and handles the event contracts and costs they are responsible for the arena expenses which totaled about $33,000, with most of that cost from labor and equipment.
Kellogg Arena has already submitted their invoice for payment to the campaign and Battle Creek city administrators say they are planning to submit their request.
