Dallas now expects to spend about $2.5 million on security and other city services for the Republican midterm convention at the American Airlines Center on Sept. 9–10. The largest expense is an estimated $1.8 million for Dallas police, plus roughly $200,000 for Dallas Fire-Rescue and additional costs for emergency management, transportation, overtime and equipment.
The potentially contentious part is who ultimately pays. Dallas has not identified a grant or finalized reimbursement agreement covering the expenses, meaning taxpayers could be responsible for at least some of the bill. That’s particularly sensitive because the city is dealing with budget pressures and police overtime was already projected to run $2.7 million over budget this fiscal year.
A private Dallas host committee has raised $45 million for the convention and has pledged to help offset city expenses, according to the Dallas Morning News, but it has not specified how much it will contribute or which expenses it will cover. Convention organizers have likewise offered assistance, but no reimbursement agreement has been finalized.
The two-day event is expected to draw thousands of delegates, supporters, media and political figures, including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Security preparations include federal, state and local law enforcement, checkpoints and barriers, an activated emergency operations center, street closures around the American Airlines Center and the temporary closure of DART’s Victory Station. In short, Dallas is preparing for a major national political event—and, unless reimbursement materializes, the city may be left absorbing a significant portion of the security costs.
