The unrest and violence that surrounded Freddie Gray’s death and funeral were literally costly for the city and state. All told, expenditures during the weeklong stretch totaled about $50 million.
Baltimore City spent $20 million on law enforcement costs, emergency management and other operations, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s office said in a request to the city’s Board of Estimates. For now, the city is making up the money from the rainy day fund.
In calling up the National Guard and tapping out-of-state resources, the state ran up a $30 million bill, Gov. Larry Hogan wrote in a disaster declaration request sent to the feds.
Maryland’s Congresspeople are asking for money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make up the costs.
“This situation has the potential to negatively impact services in other areas, given an already strained state budget environment,” a letter to the president said.
