Now that the unrest in Ferguson apparently has subsided, the bills soon will come due, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
For two weeks, law enforcement agencies from those in small cities all the way to the Missouri Highway Patrol and the state’s National Guard sent officers and tactical equipment to the small suburban town. From gas masks to overtime, the costs are being tallied.
Generally it’s still too early to quantify exactly what the total public cost will be for the extra law enforcement since Michael Brown was fatally shot Aug. 9 — but no one doubts it’s well into the millions.
The state has budgeted $3.455 million this year to pay expenses that any state agency incurred during an emergency declared by the governor, in addition to $4 million for emergency duties of the Missouri National Guard.
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering said none of that money has yet been allocated, but that Gov. Jay Nixon’s decision to declare an emergency and call in the Missouri National Guard means some yet-undetermined amount will be. She said it will likely be the first week of September before the amount is set.