GAINESVILLE — The nearly $793,000 in taxpayer costs connected to white nationalist Richard Spencer's October visit does not include any costs incurred by the University of Florida. Campus officials have declined thus far to disclose how much was spent by the university.
Gainesville officials estimate the Richard Spencer event held at the University of Florida in October cost city taxpayers at least $224,000.
Those costs, however, don’t factor the time that city officials and law enforcement spent planning for the event.
The latest estimates are among a string of expenses that have rolled in since Spencer’s visit. So far, the tab has come to at least $793,000. Spencer and his organization paid about $10,500, records show.
“This is the price you pay for racism and hate, Commissioner Charles Goston said.
Spencer, a white nationalist, spoke at the campus on Oct. 19. The Phillips Center event attracted thousands of protesters and throngs of media. The crowd inside the venue ultimately drowned Spencer out with its chanting and he ended his speech early.
Earlier this month, Alachua County officials sent UF a $302,000 bill for its costs connected to the event. UF spokeswoman Margot Winick said in an email that the university hasn’t made a decision whether to reimburse the county.
On Thursday, commissioners decided not to send UF a bill for costs. They will, however, send a letter informing university leaders about how much taxpayers had to pay to ensure the safety of city residents.
Mayor Lauren Poe said sending a bill could jeopardize the positive relationship between UF and the city.
“I don’t believe we should be billing anybody,” Poe said.
Citing the state of emergency that was declared before the event, UF has denied numerous requests by The Sun to release figures that detail its expenses spent on the event, but previously estimated expenses would come to about $600,000.
Chris Quinn, the city’s finance director, said UF has not supplied city officials with numbers, either.
Commissioner Harvey Ward said the amount should be publicized so other cities can better prepare when Spencer holds events elsewhere.
According to a memo sent to City Manager Anthony Lyons, the city spent $136,000 on overtime for Gainesville police. Another $42,500 was spent on overtime pay for public works and fire rescue employees.
The city also spent $47,000 for travel, meals and supplies, according to the memo.
Florida Highway Patrol spent about $266,000 on the event, which was split between security at UF and around the city.
Lyons said it was unlikely that the state would reimburse the city for its costs and he doesn’t expect FHP to bill the city. Lyons also said he was proud of how the city handled the event.
“It was airtight,” he said. “We did an absolutely phenomenal job.”