Presidential campaign visits in Bucks County during 2024 placed a financial strain on local governments, with police overtime costs alone exceeding $145,000 across multiple municipalities.
Financial records obtained through Right-to-Know requests detail how these events required extensive law enforcement resources, often without reimbursement from the campaigns.
In October, President Donald Trump’s campaign visit to a McDonald’s in Lower Southampton cost local taxpayers over $11,000 in police overtime.
Eight surrounding towns also incurred expenses ranging from $600 to over $7,400 as officers were dispatched to assist the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement.
In total, presidential campaign stops in five Bucks County towns resulted in nearly $145,000 in police overtime costs.
Notably, $88,000 was spent by communities that did not host any campaign events but provided assistance.
Bensalem, home to the county’s largest police force, spent close to $30,000 in overtime to deploy 44 officers across five appearances.
The county’s mutual aid agreements require law enforcement agencies to provide assistance to other jurisdictions, often without reimbursement.
This system, which is typically used for large events such as parades, protests, and sporting events, played a significant role in supporting local police forces during campaign visits.
Bensalem Public Safety Director William McVey noted the burden of these visits, saying, “It’s flattering to have Bucks County presidential campaign candidates come to your county to persuade voters, but it comes at an expense.”
Several Bucks County police departments, including Lower Southampton, sent officers to high-profile gatherings like the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl celebration and the Polish president’s visit to the National Shrine of Czestochowa in New Britain.
These events, like campaign stops, require municipalities to allocate off-duty officers, often resulting in overtime expenses covered by local taxpayers.
Despite the financial strain, few Bucks County municipalities sought reimbursement from campaign organizations.
Lower Makefield Township invoiced the Harris-Walz campaign $7,995 for an event featuring Douglas Emhoff at the Township Community Center, covering police services and facility costs.
Newtown Township sent invoices totaling more than $42,000 to both presidential campaigns for five appearances, but as of February 20, 2025, neither had responded.
Lower Southampton, which incurred nearly $8,400 in police overtime and $2,600 in public works overtime for Trump’s McDonald’s event alone, did not bill any campaigns for expenses.
Township officials have since discussed whether to seek reimbursement.
Newtown Township’s campaign-related police costs ranged from $8,384 to $12,248 per event.
The township also dispatched officers to support other municipalities, such as sending six officers to Upper Makefield for a Harris event and 13 officers to Lower Southampton for Trump’s visit.
Similarly, Northampton, which did not host any presidential candidates, spent over $19,000 on police overtime to send officers to multiple campaign events and the Polish president’s visit.
Upper Makefield paid $8,461 in overtime expenses for the Harris visit and incurred additional costs sending officers to Newtown Township for a Vance event and Lower Southampton for Trump’s McDonald’s visit.
Upper Southampton, which also did not host any candidates, spent $6,416 to send officers to four campaign stops.
Police officials justified these expenditures, pointing to the risks involved in high-profile events.
Newtown Township Police Chief John Hearn referenced the July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump, stating, “Interagency cooperation is essential in maintaining public safety, not only for the visiting dignitaries but also for the visitors and the community.” He warned that failures in planning and coordination could have severe consequences.
