Maureen Groppe, USA Today, WASHINGTON — There’s pride in being the hometown of the vice president.
But there’s also a cost.
The Columbus, Ind., police and fire departments are running out of budgeted overtime pay to cover visits by Vice President Pence.
The city council has given initial approval to an ordinance Tuesday increasing the overtime budgets for the departments by a combined $70,000. That’s about an 18 percent increase in the $390,388 initially approved for overtime pay this year.
The ordinance says the extra funding is needed because of “unanticipated overtime events related to vice-presidential visits to our city.”
But Columbus Mayor James Lienhoop said only about half the extra cost is related to Pence visits. And, he added, the expense is “well within our ability to manage.”
“It’s a good problem to have,” Lienhoop said. “We’re proud of Mike and pleased to be able to participate in some small way to his service to our country.”
The cost of Pence’s travel became an issue in October after he went to an Indianapolis Colts game, only to leave after the national anthem when some players on the opposing team knelt during the anthem to raise awareness of racial inequalities in the nation.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spent more than $14,000 providing security for Pence’s brief visit to the game.
Pence flew in and out of Indianapolis on that trip. When he went to the Indianapolis 500 in May, however, Air Force 2 landed in Columbus. Pence also used the Columbus airport when traveling to Brown County State Park last month for a celebration of his son’s marriage.
Pence made at least one trip to Columbus by car from Indianapolis this year. And the city wants to be prepared if he makes a visit during the holiday season. Pence’s mother and other relatives live in Columbus.
Paying for the overtime requires shifting money from other personnel costs, funding that likely would otherwise go unspent, according to Lienhoop.
The city doesn’t fill every request made by the Secret Service, the mayor said. But, “we want to be a team player.”
For Pence arrivals by Air Force 2, that means having firefighting equipment waiting at the airport. Police officers can help with the vice president’s motorcade, or provide additional manpower to the Secret Service’s protection for wherever Pence is visiting in Columbus.
Lienhoop said he’s not aware of any opposition to increasing the overtime budgets, which has to be considered at two council meetings before it can be approved.
“I suppose somebody could show up. Mike is well liked here, but he’s not universally highly approved of. There are people here who I’m sure did not vote for him. And they might have an issue with this,” Lienhoop said.
