- Associated Press - Monday, August 18, 2014

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The cost of guarding Gov. Rick Scott continues to grow.

A new report released Friday showed that the state spent more than $2.46 million on security expenses between July 2013 and June 2014.

Most of that total was to provide around-the-clock protection for the governor and his wife. That includes the salaries and travel expenses for the agents who guard Scott.

The amount spent on Scott’s security has steadily grown during his time in office. Scott has taken 10 trips abroad, although his last overseas trip was to Japan last November. But the governor has also been spending more time outside the state Capitol as he campaigns for re-election.

The latest report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows that there has been an increase in the amount spending on providing security for First Lady Ann Scott and for the governor’s mansion.

The state has been compiling the annual reports for the past decade. They show that the state’s spending on security has been higher for Scott than it was while Charlie Crist was governor or during the final part of Gov. Jeb Bush’s time in office.

Still, the overall total spent on security is slightly lower than the previous fiscal year, when Florida provided extra security during the Republican National Convention held in Tampa.

This past fiscal year taxpayers paid for 58 protective details of other elected officials, including three trips by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. One of the trips coincided with Christie coming to Florida to host fundraisers for Scott’s re-election bid.

Florida taxpayers also paid for security details for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

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