Protection for Gov. Rick Scott, First Lady Ann Scott, other officials and the governor’s mansion cost the state about $2.9 million in the recently completed fiscal year, according to an annual report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The “Report of Transportation and Protective Services” covers the period from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. The largest parts of the costs were for salaries and overtime pay. The report put the cost of security and transportation for the first family at just under $2.37 million, while 97 details for governors and governors-elect from 35 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Republican Governors Association and former President George W. Bush, came in at $530,330.
A number of the details covered times when out-of-state governors were in Florida last year campaigning for Scott, such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s October appearances in Boca Raton and Plantation — $2,026.16 — and in St. Lucie and Indian River counties — $460.58.
The biggest expense went to a May 22 to July 2 security detail involving Bondi that came to $216,240.
Another $95,290 was needed to cover expenses involving the Republican Governors Association’s annual conference last November in Boca Raton. The cost for security when former President Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush visited Florida on Feb. 27 came to $504.15.