Family initially told Rob Ford public memorial would cost under $1,000
Posted April 2, 2016 2:13 pm.
Last Updated April 4, 2016 9:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Rob Ford’s two days of lying in repose at City Hall will cost taxpayers just more than $18,000, according to reports.
However, in a statement, Ford’s chief of staff Dan Jacobs said the family was initially told the costs would be under $1,000.
“We were initially told that this among would be minimal, under $1,000, which is well under what we are now told the finally tally is,” Jacobs said.
He said the family intends to reimburse the city for Ford’s memorial and funeral, and are just waiting for the final numbers.
According to two published reports, most of the expenses were for unionized staff who worked overtime and security officers.
A city spokesperson told The Toronto Star that all of the costs would be covered out of “existing budgets.”
More than 5,500 people filed past the casket of the former mayor over the course of two days leading up to Ford’s funeral on Wednesday.
The city’s bill does not include the cost of police officers used to close off streets and in the procession for the funeral.
