The Republican National Committee (RNC) has yet to reimburse the city of Dallas, Texas, for the $800,000 spent on security and other services during its two-day midterm convention in September 2026.
Dallas city staff recently presented the final bill for hosting the event at the American Airlines Center, raising concerns among city council members about the outstanding payment and whether the organisers would eventually cover the expenses.
The issue came up during a finance committee meeting on Monday, where some council members questioned why the city was still bearing the cost.
“That’s absolutely ridiculous,” council member Maxie Johnson said. “I’m just really uncomfortable, and I feel that this is wrong that this has not been rectified at this moment.”
Kevin Oden, Dallas’ emergency management director, explained that the city intended to seek reimbursement from US Capitol Police for eligible expenses before sending the remaining bill to the convention organisers.
US Capitol Police reimburses Dallas for certain security services provided when members of Congress require protection during visits. The Secret Service, which protects presidents, has historically not reimbursed the city for similar support, according to city officials.
When Johnson asked who would ultimately receive the invoice, Oden said it would go to “either the RNC or the host committee, whichever pays the bill back.”
However, it remains unclear whether the Republican National Committee or the Dallas 2026 Host Committee will cover the outstanding amount.
The host committee, which reportedly raised at least $45 million to support the convention, had said its efforts would help reduce the financial burden on government. City officials have yet to establish publicly how much the committee intends to pay or whether a formal reimbursement agreement exists.
Oden also noted that Dallas regularly provides security for dozens of events and protests each year without necessarily recovering the associated costs.
Council member Kathy Stewart called for regular updates on the reimbursement process, stressing that the council had a responsibility to protect public funds.
“It is our job as stewards of our taxpayer dollars to watch over something like this and to make sure that we do get that reimbursement,” Stewart said.
The outstanding bill comes as Dallas grapples with financial pressures, including a projected $30 million budget shortfall. The Dallas Police Department has also reported exceeding its overtime budget by $2.7 million.
According to Oden, the convention-related expenses covered overtime payments, barricades and the use of city vehicles.
Police services accounted for the largest portion of the bill, at approximately $661,000. The fire department incurred about $120,000, while emergency management costs stood at $6,600. Transportation expenses added another $16,600, bringing the total to roughly $800,000.
In a memo, Oden said an “overwhelming majority” of the expenses had already been included in the city’s budget. However, he did not provide a breakdown of the costs that were not budgeted.
The final bill is also significantly lower than the $2 million city staff had estimated the convention would cost in August.
Council member Chad West welcomed the city’s continued efforts to recover the money, urging officials to keep pursuing payment until they reached a clear outcome.
“I think we should invoice them and continue following up until we get paid,” West said. “Or we hit a dead end, and then we take another route.”
For now, Dallas is awaiting reimbursement while city officials work to determine how much of the convention’s security bill can be recovered from federal authorities and the event’s organisers.
