Obama’s Anchorage visits cost city $500K , most in police OT

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage paid nearly $530,000 in overtime, traffic management and public works associated with President Obama’s visit.

Officials released the figure Thursday at the request of the Alaska Dispatch News.

Most costs were incurred by the Anchorage Police Department, which had more than $480,000 in overtime.

Obama visited over three days in late August and early September. He attended a State Department global warming conference and then used Anchorage as a base for day trips to smaller communities.

A city spokesman says costs will be offset by the 1,200 or so people who attended the conference, spending about $975 each in the city.

City officials also tout the untold benefits from social and traditional media exposure. It’s estimated more than 370 million people worldwide heard about Anchorage sometime over those three days.

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