District Burns Through $48.5M on Inauguration

D.C. hopes Feds cover $33M shortfall

Updated 9:45 AM EST, Fri, Feb 13, 2009

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So you may have spent $40 on an inaugural T-shirt and flip-flops. That pales in comparison with what the District shelled out during President Barack Obama's big event.

The District coughed up $48.5 million on logistics and security while hosting the inauguration festivities, according to the Washington Business Journal. It has received a check for $15 million from the Feds to cover some of the costs, but still faces a $33 million shortfall. The hope is the federal government will pick up the tab for the rest.

So what did the close to $50 million cover? The Journal breaks it down:

$15.6 million for overtime and holiday personnel costs
$15 million for services and commodities
$4.6 million to transport and lodge police from neighboring jurisdictions
$4.1 million to build parade viewing stands
$3.6 million for 1,000 new radios
$2.9 million for fire and emergency management resources
$1.9 million to repave Pennsylvania Avenue NW

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Meanwhile, Obama raised $4.5 million from private donors to help him and his team make the transition to the White House.

Obama could raise up to $5,000 per donor to complement the roughly $8 million in transition funding set aside by Congress.

Obama restricted his transition fundraising to individual donors. He turned away money from corporations, labor unions, political action committees and Washington lobbyists.

At least 59,609 people contributed, according to updated donor information released Wednesday.

Yet to come are total figures on Obama's fundraising for his inauguration festivities. The inaugural committee raised at least $47 million, but that total doesn't include all the under-$200 donors or proceeds from souvenir sales.

The inaugural committee has until late April to file a finance report with the Federal Election Commission.

More Information:

Obama Transition Donors