Scott Powers
Palm Beach County’s challenges with hosting the “Winter White House” begin with police and firefighter overtime but also include such needs as tighter cyber security, officials said Monday morning.
As a result, Democratic U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach is sending a letter today to the White House asking for increased compensation for the local governments’ costs in helping secure Mar-a-Lago. Her letter was co-signed by fellow Democratic U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton and Alcee Hastings of Miramar.
Joined by West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio and Palm Beach County Assistant Administrator Jon Van Arnam, Frankel layer out costs that start with $70,000 for the county and $35,000 for the city each day in extra police, sheriff and firefighter duty and then go on to include increased security for everything from water supplies to municipal computer systems.
‘We understand why the president wants to be here. We understand that. This is paradise, right?’ Frankel said. “But what were asking for is reimbursement for this county and the city.”
Someone is trying to hack West Palm Beach city’s computers, Muoio said. The city is working with the FBI to try to figure out who and why, but now expects to spend $400,000 to upgrade information technology security. She also said the city is looking at spending up to $4 million for additional equipment and staff, particularly since the president’s presence heighten terrorist risks, what she referred to as “critical threats.”
Van Arnam praised the six-member bipartisan congressional delegation, also including Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast of Palm City and U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, for working with the White House to try to get reimbursements.
“The reality is that these are federal expenses that local taxpayers are burdened with,” Van Arnam said.
