Durham, NH Requests Reimbursement For Obama Campaign Stop
DURHAM, NH (CBS) – President Obama is scheduled to visit New Hampshire on Monday, and the town of Durham wants help paying for it.
Town Administrator Todd Selig estimates the cost of the campaign trip will be between $20,000 and $30,000 for police and fire services.
In a statement, Selig says, "While pleased that the campaign has chosen Durham, a quintessential New England college community, as the backdrop for Monday's scheduled campaign visit, community leaders do not believe that costs associated with the campaign should be borne by local taxpayers."
Selig says Durham accepts the costs associated with official presidential visits but they should not have to pay for campaign stops.
He says, "Community leaders have taken the position that the campaign, regardless of party affiliation, should absorb the added local public safety costs rather than local taxpayers."
Durham has reached out to the Obama for America campaign's New Hampshire office but has not reached an agreement to cover the costs of the trip.
An Obama campaign official tells CBSBoston, "The campaign will follow all rules and pay for the portion of travel that relates to political events, as has been true for previous incumbent presidential candidates."
