Estimated cost of attacks to KC set at $48 million

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City officials estimate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks cost the city $48 million in lost tourism revenue and added security expenses.

City Manager Bob Collins wrote in a memo that he expects the city to lose about $29 million, including $23.5 million in the aviation department. And city expenses shot up nearly $19 million because of increased security, insurance and overtime, he wrote.

He sent the memo to city councilwoman Becky Nace, who is the Missouri representative to an economic development committee at the National League of Cities.

"I think we're going to need help from the federal government in terms of relief," Nace said. "We'll all be similarly impacted in terms of tourism and in terms of our public safety costs."

The new city expenses included delayed or canceled capital improvements projects at the airport, increased security costs, and freezing of positions in the Aviation Department, Collins wrote.

Collins said the attacks would affect use of the city's convention center. The American Dental Association, which typically draws about 25,000 to 30,000 people, is now expecting about 20,000 at its mid-October convention.