MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The mayor of Mobile, Alabama, says he will not ask Donald Trump’s Republican presidential campaign to repay thousands of dollars in expenses from his August political rally in the city.

Media reports have said the city spent more than $16,000 in taxpayer money on the Trump visit, mostly for police overtime and buses. Mayor Sandy Stimpson told WALA-TV (http://bit.ly/1NBjqnU ) on Thursday that cities sometimes incur expenses when dignitaries visit.

Stimpson, who met Trump at the airport, said he would not seek reimbursement from the billionaire.

“The amount of recognition that we got from that, positive recognition from the media from all around the world, it was headlines around the world, and so, no, I don’t think that’s something that we need to do. But those that are compelled, if they want to, they can,” he said.

City Council member Fred Richardson has criticized the city for funding a political event and said he might ask Trump for the money on his own.

The city’s 40,000-seat football stadium was more than half full for a Trump campaign rally on Aug. 21. Stimpson said concerns about the large crowd prompted him to put police on overtime and call in buses for transportation.

Stimpson’s office said the Trump campaign spent $5,120 on the event for transportation.