The Cost Of Trump's Border Wall Prototypes To San Diego Taxpayers

SAN DIEGO, CA -- President Donald Trump may not have spent money on his signature border wall yet, but San Diego taxpayers have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to just have the prototypes built. The San Diego Union-Tribune said the city spent "$278,000 for overtime, supplies and services for city police assigned to patrol the area" where the prototypes were built in September and October.

"Additional costs included $5,778 for meals, $10,603 for audio equipment, $14,152 for tactical equipment and $19,817 for ammunition," the Union-Tribune reported. "The breakdown of costs, provided in response to a request under the California Public Records Act, push the known outlay by local agencies that provided law enforcement services in the area to at least $389,000."

Trump promised supporters he would build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border during his presidential campaign. At the time, he said he would force Mexico to pick up the tab.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the $18 billion would be used by the administration to construct 306 miles of new fencing and to reinforce more than 400 miles of the existing barrier between the U.S. and Mexico.

Trump made the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexican a campaign promise during the lead up to the 2016 presidential election, but since taking office he has had little success in securing funds for the construction of a wall.

--Patch writer Ben Feuerherd contributed to this report

--Photo: People look at prototypes of a border wall Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in San Diego. Contractors have completed eight prototypes of President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, triggering a period of rigorous testing to determine if they can repel sledgehammers, torches, pickaxes and battery-operated tools. (AP Photo/Elliott Spagat)