Flathead County and the city of Kalispell collectively spent more than $100,000 on security and emergency services related to President Donald Trump's recent Flathead Valley visit.  

Flathead County is not seeking reimbursement for the roughly $58,000 it incurred.  

Kalispell's bill came out to $45,781.39, and City Council will likely discuss whether to bill the president at its upcoming meeting, according to City Manager Jarod Nygren. Mayor Ryan Hunter earlier this month proposed billing the president for any costs the city incurs from the rally. 

Trump held a rally at the Majestic Valley Arena on Oct. 14 to stump for Aaron Flint, the Republican candidate competing with Democrat Sam Forstag for Montana's western congressional district. 

Accommodating the commander in chief was a major logistical operation that involved hundreds of law enforcement and emergency services personnel. Trump's roughly three-hour visit prompted temporary closures on U.S. 93 and U.S. 2 as well as flight restrictions over Kalispell that briefly paused commercial flights.  

Most of the county's $58,000 bill stemmed from overtime wages for Flathead County Sheriff's Office personnel who assisted the U.S. Secret Service with security during the week leading up to the rally and on the day of the event, according to county officials.  

Sticking with precedent established during previous visits by former Vice Presidents Mike Pence and Dick Cheney, the county won't seek reimbursement from the federal government for the expenses, according to county officials.  

Pence and Cheney's visits were also for campaign events, not official government business.  

"We have a duty to assist with security efforts during any presidential visit of this scale," Flathead County Commission Chairman Brad Abell said in a press release on Wednesday. 

"Whenever a high-profile leader visits the Flathead Valley, our duty is clear: provide maximum security and protect everyone involved. I could not be prouder of how our entire team performed," Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said in the announcement.*   

Kalispell's roughly $45,800 bill is primarily attributable to overtime pay for police and fire staff both leading up to and on the day of the event. The cost was distributed among different police and fire funds depending on employees' positions.  

He said Council may need to approve a budget amendment, but that the city had sufficient funds to cover the costs. 

Montana Department of Transportation, Montana Highway Patrol, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and several other entities all contributed resources to accommodate the president. Costs they incurred have yet to be disclosed. 

Campaign officials for Flint said they didn't have information on who paid for the rally venue and amenities. Questions about who foot the bill were directed to the Republican National Convention and the Trump administration. 

Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC has dumped millions into boosting GOP candidates ahead of the midterm elections. 

ROUGHLY 230 law enforcement and emergency service personnel were involved in operations surrounding the event, Heino told the Inter Lake.  

Heino said the operation required extensive coordination across multiple locations — from Glacier Park International Airport, where Air Force One landed, to the motorcade route and Majestic Valley Arena. 

He said the effort was challenging but ultimately went off without a hitch thanks to effective communication between agencies. No arrests were made in or around the venue, he said.  

Heino said he remained at the arena throughout the event, overseeing coordination efforts while also listening to Trump's speech.  

While Flathead County is familiar with securing large-scale events — Under the Big Sky and the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo, for example — Heino said the agency usually has more than a week to prepare.  

"The experience was definitively challenging, but I think it also reinforced the great relationships we have in law enforcement that we can all come together and work together to get these things done," Heino said.  

South Kalispell Fire Department was just one of the many local fire departments involved in operations related to the rally.  

The department deployed a heavy rescue truck and six personnel to cover for the West Valley Fire District while its resources were assigned to the event venue, according to South Kalispell Fire Chief Chris Yerkes.  

"It was kind of interesting from my perspective to look at something where you had so many agencies across the spectrum working together," Yerkes said. 

He said the department didn't incur any measurable costs.  

"Maybe a couple gallons of fuel was about it," he said.  

*A correction was made to attribute the quote to Heino, not Abell. 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

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