It cost $12.75 million to use the Minnesota National Guard to respond to civil disturbances in the Twin Cities after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, according to the state’s budget commissioner.
Most of the price is for payroll; also included are meals, vehicles and fuel. The funding is expected to be eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Commissioner Myron Frans wrote in a letter to legislators last week.
Gov. Tim Walz activated the National Guard on May 28 after people began looting, setting fires and causing property damage in St. Paul and Minneapolis. He took the unprecedented step on May 30 of fully mobilizing the Guard after destruction continued.
With many law enforcement officers also on the streets and nightly curfews in place, officials said order was restored. Large peaceful protests have continued.
There were more than 7,000 Guard members mobilized at the peak and fewer than 1,000 activated as of Tuesday, according to the National Guard.
___
© 2020 the Pioneer Press
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
