Chinese President's visit to Seattle cost city $1M

SEATTLE — The city of Seattle spent nearly $1 million on a three-day visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.

The Seattle Times reports most of the costs came in overtime pay to police, fire and transportation employees.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray says the red-carpet treatment was worth the costs due to strengthened business ties between Seattle and China.

The Times obtained a document through a public-disclosure request that shows Seattle's police department spent $701,340 to protect Xi and his delegation of over 1,000 people and to manage traffic during Xi's tour of businesses and a high school in the Puget Sound area.

The document also shows the transportation department spent $197,356 and the fire department spent $28,165.

City officials say Seattle received no reimbursements from the federal government for its expenses.