SF-Based Burning Man Organizers Agree To Pay Millions For Security

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) - Burning Man organizers have agreed to pay the Pershing County sheriff's office more than $600,000 a year over the next 10 years for security and other services at the annual counter-culture festival in the Black Rock Desert.

The organizing group, Black Rock City LLC, also agrees to take out a $1 million insurance policy for the eight-day event and reimburse the county for costs related to prosecuting crimes at the festival.

The new agreement is intended to settle a lawsuit Burning Man lawyers filed against the county a year ago challenging the constitutionality of a county ordinance leveling a $1.50-per-head fee on festival-goers.

U.S. District Judge Robert Jones has scheduled a hearing in Reno Nov. 18 to consider the group's motion to dismiss the suit given the new agreement.

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