The Dole Institute of Politics’ opening weekend last month brought between 7,000 and 25,000 people to town. It also cost the city of Lawrence more than $50,000.

“It was money that was spent for services needed for the weekend,” City Manager Mike Wildgen said. “We were asked to provide those services, and we did that.”

According to figures released by the city, Lawrence Police officers were paid $27,989 in overtime July 19-22, the days coinciding with dedication of the new center on Kansas University’s west campus; Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical personnel were paid $24,695 in overtime.

Free fuel for aircraft participating in the dedication’s air parade and overtime for other city departments made up the rest of the $55,118 price tag for the city.

The city’s costs were limited to security and infrastructure support. Richard Norton Smith, the institute’s director, said dedication events cost the institute $475,000, which was raised from private sources.

Wildgen said the city was used to spending money for major KU events. He compared the event to the weekends leading up to the KU men’s basketball team participating in the NCAA Final Four, saying the city’s costs were “probably even higher for that.” He said expenses for such events were commonplace in college towns.

“That’s part of life and part of the community, and KU is part of that,” Wildgen said. “It’s the reason Lawrence is what it is.”

The city’s spending related to the dedication isn’t finished yet. Eighteen protesters were arrested during the dedication weekend. As the defendants go through the judicial process — most will be dealt with in municipal court — Wildgen said the price of the event would continue to rise.

Staff writer Terry Rombeck contributed to this report.