If Donald Trump brings his family to Bedminster often during his presidency, security costs could soar for local law enforcement.
BEDMINSTER TWP. - If Donald Trump visits his golf club in Somerset County for seven weekends each year, it will cost the host town $1 million over four years in overtime costs to help with security, township officials have told their congressman.
"We in Bedminster Township are flattered that our new President enjoys spending time in Bedminster as much as our residents," Mayor Steven Parker wrote last week to Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Somerset.) "We want to welcome President Trump with open arms, but don't wish to burden our taxpayers dispropotionately for these visits."
Officials in the town where Trump built his Trump National Golf Club on a former estate said it is impossible for its police force of just 16 officers to fulfill a federal request for six security posts manned round-the-clock whenever the president will be in town.
"If we take a cue from his campaign, he may choose to weekend in Bedminster perhaps 5-10 times over the coming year with the First Lady perhaps spending much of the summer here," Parker said in his request that Lance help find a way to reimburse the town from federal funds.
If Trump comes to Bedminster seven times a year, the overtime costs would be at least $12,240 a day, or nearly $37,000 per three-day visit, Bedminister officials said. That adds up to $257,000 a year, or more that $1 million for a four-year administration.
Somerset County will be joining Bedminster in seeking reimbursement for the cost of providing security whenever Donald Trump stays or visits his golf course in Bedminster, officials said.
Employees of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office worked a combined 208 hours of overtime during the pre-Thanksgiving visit by the president-elect to his Trump National Golf Club, according to records provided by the county.
The cost to county taxpayers was $17,893.38, according to payroll records provided to New Jersey Advance Media.
"Somerset County can't absorb this type of financial burden on a reoccurring basis," said Jack Bennett, spokesman for the prosecutor. "Although no date has been set, the Prosecutor's Office plans on meeting with federal officials to discuss monetary reimbursement should future visits occur and our assistance is requested for security purposes."
Payroll records provided by the county show employees who provided security that weekend put in for 30 hours of overtime at a pay rate of $115.89; 24 hours at $103.23; 30 hours at $93.12; 100 hours at $79.75; 16 hours at $50.49; and eight hours at $45.34. It was unclear how many employees were involved in the special duties.
Bedminster officials sought help from the county when their security services were requested at the last minute for a visit by Trump the weekend of Nov. 18 through 20. The town paid out $3,683 in overtime for the weekend - about a third of the overtime budgeted until the end of the year.
Trump's security costs have become an issue in New York City, where his wife and youngest son will remain until at least the end of the school year. In addition, his continued reliance on his personal security detail is unprecedented, Politico.com reported.
The 435-acre golf club presents unique security challenges, experts said, because it is open to the public, and located in a mostly rural area with little in the way of fencing.
There is a pot of money for which Congress just passed an appropriation of $7 million specifically to help local law enforcement agencies cover the president-elect. Bedminster and Somerset County would have to apply for reimbursement, said Lance spokesman John Byers.
"Such grants were given to Chicago and Hawaii for the President's security and we will make the case for the same treatment," Byers indicated.
Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.