St. Pete mayor reluctant to pay for RNC costs

TAMPA, Fla. - St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster is asking for help paying for security at the Republican National Convention's welcome party at Tropicana Field on Aug. 26.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Foster doesn't want city taxpayers to pay for security for the 20,000 dignitaries, delegates and journalists at the event or any other convention activities held in St. Petersburg.

The RNC is being held in Tampa from Aug. 27-30, but the welcome party is across the bay in St. Petersburg.

Foster has asked Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to reimburse St. Petersburg for the "substantial costs in connection" with paying police, firefighters and other city employees.

Tampa is getting a $50 million federal grant to pay for policing and convention-related security gear, vehicles and communications equipment.

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Information from: Tampa Bay (Fla.)Times, http://tampabay.com