The Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Security for the Republican National Convention cost New Jersey more than $6.5 million, mostly in overtime pay, according to a published report. The expenses were mostly incurred by the State Police, the Office of Counter Terrorism, the Department of Transportation and New Jersey Transit, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported in Saturday’s newspapers. During the convention, state and local law enforcement agencies guarded tunnels and bridges and searched all New York-bound commuter trains. The federal government gave New York City $50 million to offset security costs at the convention, but New Jersey officials say the Garden State received no allotment for its efforts. Meanwhile, increased security put in place after the federal government reported threats against Prudential’s headquarters in Newark has cost New Jersey and its municipalities about $1 million for police overtime and other expenses, according to the newspaper. The elevated terror alert, which has required 24-hour protection of the Prudential building, is costing $25,000 per day. And the warning is not expected to be lifted until after the presidential inauguration in January. New Jersey has already spent most of the $5 million provided by the federal government last year to cover the costs associated with heightened alerts and has not been able to secure additional funding, so the state is planning to use $800,000 from U.S. Department of Homeland Security grants originally earmarked for other security projects in northern New Jersey. “Every time we divert money, it restricts our ability to put in place long-term solutions, but we have no choice,” said Tom O’Reilly, administrator of the Department of Law and Public Safety, who manages the state’s homeland security money. However, federal officials note that New Jersey has received $234 million in grants in the past three years, some of which can be used to offset the security costs.