assachusetts taxpayers will pick up the tab for dispatching hundreds of extra police officers to tonight's presidential campaign debate, a situation that has angered at least one police agency.
The state, Boston, and University of Massachusetts at Boston police departments will provide the bulk of the security for the event. The cost, which is expected to reach into six figures, is not expected to be reimbursed by the federal government or the commission sponsoring the debate.
The State Police plan to send more than 100 troopers to help control crowds of protesters, expected to number as many as 20,000. The department estimates it will have to pay 1,400 hours of overtime at approximately $50 per hour, according to a source familiar with the security details.
The resulting $70,000 price tag has angered some State Police leaders planning security for the event.
''This is significant money for us,'' the State Police source said.
The cost for Boston police promises to be more substantial.
A Boston police spokesman would not reveal the number of officers assigned to provide security for the debate, but said some officers will be working on overtime and ''sufficient personnel'' will be on hand for the event.
Boston City Councilor at Large Stephen J. Murphy, the chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said he was told that 400 city police officers will patrol the area at a cost approaching $100,000.
Police Commissioner Paul Evans said last night that he has not given much thought to being reimbursed for security. Instead, the department is focusing its energy on ensuring the event runs smoothly, he said.
''In many respects, the whole world is looking at Boston,'' he said.
Evans, however, said he would seek reimbursement after the debate has concluded.
''Obviously, as a person who's always under fire with the budget, I will seek any means possible to recoup the public costs,'' he said. ''I'll call [City Chief Financial Officer] Eddie Collins Thursday morning and cry.''
A UMass spokesman, John Hoey, said the cost of campus police security will be paid from the university's debate budget. Half of the budget comes from a special grant from the Legislature, while the remainder is money paid by debate sponsors.
He said there are no plans to use any of the $2 million budget for the event to reimburse police.
Protesters are expected to gather on the perimeter of the UMass campus for tonight's debate, the first between Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush of Texas.
The groups organizing protests include labor unions, UMass students, death penalty opponents, and supporters of Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who was not allowed to participate in the debate.
The protesters will be confined to an area along Morrissey Boulevard, far from the campus gymnasium where the debate will be held.
Secret Service agents are responsible for protecting the candidates for the debate. UMass police will patrol the campus area, and State and Boston police will have primary responsibility for controlling protesters.
Many officers also will be used to control traffic in the area.
The debate also has prompted the closing of the campus to students today and yesterday.
Stephanie Ebbert of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
