Montco Municipality Laments Pope Price Tag, Seeks Reimbursement: Report

Lower Merion Township is looking for reimbursement from the World Meeting of Families for $148,000 paid in staff overtime during Pope Francis’ September visit, according to a Philly.com report.

The World Meeting of Families, meanwhile, has reportedly said it will only reimburse Philadelphia.

Lower Merion says that the $148,000 does not include the cost of supplies needed for the Pope’s weekend, the report states.

Of that total, about $128,000 was for police, $14,300 for public works, $4,000 for the fire department, and $600 for parking services, according to the report.

If the World Meeting of Families maintains its position and refuses to reimburse Lower Merion, the township could seek assistance from the state, according to the Morning Call.

The controversial proposed state budget, which has not been passed, would set aside $5 million to help counties defray the cost of Francis’ visit, the report states.