World Meeting Of Families To Pay City An Estimated $12 Million To Cover Costs
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you've been observing the city's planning for the pope's visit, you may be wondering, "how much is all this going to cost?"
Well, the city has an estimate. It's in the newly-signed contract with the World Meeting of Families.
The World Meeting of Families has agreed to pay all the expenses the city incurs for hosting the papal visit, including extra staffing, overtime, materials and equipment. The city agrees to provide an itemized invoice but gives a ball park estimate of $12 million.
Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison says they arrived at the total by the same process they use for any special event.
"All of the departments have to (give) all their expenses to us and we find out what's responsible and what's not."
But this event includes some services the city has never had to offer before, including a 50-bed medical station and six 25-bed first aid stations.
Emergency Medical Services are estimated to cost $4 million, coming in right behind police services, estimated at $5 million.
The World Meeting of Families has already put down a $5 million security deposit and paid a $230,000 fee for use of the Parkway.