Obama security bills top $32,000

GREEN BAY - Last Thursday, more than a thousand people were allowed into Green Bay Southwest High School's gym for a town hall style meeting with President Obama. This week, the bill for that visit came in.

Even though President Barack Obama only spent about two hours in Green Bay, the security cost more than $32,000.

"It's an honor. It's a cost of doing business," Green Bay police captain Karl Fleury told FOX 11. Fleury said the department spent $22,511.02 for security. That included overtime and fringe benefits for more than 50 Officers. Fleury said officers provided security at Southwest High School and along the motorcade route.

"This is one of those things that you don't plan accordingly," Fleury said. "It's not something when you make out your overtime budget or you're doing your budget for the year that you're gonna say we're gonna have the President of the United States visit us and it's gonna cost 'x' number of dollars."

Chief Deputy John Gossage from the Brown County sheriff's department said that department spent $7,225.87 in overtime and fringe benefits for 20 Deputies.

The Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department spent about $3,000 for security at three intersections during the motorcade.

"It's not like the old days when it was a small matter, it's big money," Guy Zima said. Zima is the chairman of the Brown County Board and a Green Bay alderman. He said local police agencies should bill the White House.

"We didn't invite him," Zima said. "(President Obama) came here and we're honored of course. But at the same time I think they have to pay for the security that comes along with it."

Fleury said he can't imagine the White House ever paying for local security.

"The overall picture you have to look at is you have the President of the United States coming to Green Bay, Wisconsin," Fleury said. "While it's hard economic times and stuff it's an honor to have the President come to our city."

Even if it means more than $32,000 in security costs.

The security for a presidential visit is laid out by the Secret Service. It's then up to local law enforcement to staff the security along with the Secret Service. The cost of President Obama's visit is very similar to the cost of trips from his predecessor George W. Bush.