Florida officials have touted the idea of raising taxes in Palm Beach County to help cover costs related to President Donald Trump's security when he visits the area.
According to CNN, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spends roughly $60,000 a day in overtime when Trump is staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The sheriff's office assists the Secret Service, which has primary control of protecting Trump.
In order to recoup the money, Palm Beach County is looking at the federal and local governments. If the feds don't provide any money, one official told CNN a tax hike might be in the cards.
"It means the local taxpayers will have to bear the added burden of being part of the security for the president of the United States," Palm Beach County Mayor Paulette Burdick, a Democrat, told CNN. "It will either be cuts or increase in taxes."
Trump has spent 14 days at Mar-a-Lago since he was sworn in Jan. 20. He is visiting this weekend as well.
Palm Beach County commissioner Dave Kerner told CNN the county's proposed budget for 2018 has a $40 million deficit, and that does not include helping with Trump's security when he's in town.
"I know that my taxpayers shouldn't have to bear the burden," said Kerner, also a Democrat.
Trump has thus far shunned the idea of visiting Camp David, the presidential retreat nestled in Maryland's Catoctin Mountain Park. That facility's remote and rugged location means local authorities don't have to spend as much time or money helping the Secret Service.
A Politico report last week, meanwhile, discussed another risk involved when Trump visits Mar-a-Lago: espionage among people who can gain access to the private club by simply showing an ID.
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