How much does out-of-state security for Gov. John Kasich’s presidential campaign cost Ohio taxpayers?

That’s a simple, straightforward question regarding the use of public dollars. The citizens of Ohio should be able to get an answer. Any administration committed to open and transparent government should provide it.

But the Kasich administration has refused, arguing that divulging even the costs of the governor’s protection detail would compromise his security.

“To ensure the safety and security, we do not discuss any of the resources that are used as part of the executive’s security detail,” said Maj. Marla Gatskill, a highway patrol commander.

It must be hard to say something that ridiculous with a straight face. Disclosing the costs of the governor’s security detail would not compromise his security. It’s not about naming names, disclosing locations, or exposing strategies. It’s about letting the people of Ohio see the price tag of a service they’re paying for.

Making matters worse, the Ohio Supreme Court — no friend of the public’s right to know — has ruled that information about the governor’s security detail is excluded from Ohio’s public-records law.

Gov. Kasich ought to provide the information without prodding. If he were really serious about accountability, he might even offer to reimburse taxpayers part of the campaign security expenses they have already covered.

So far, Ohioans can only guess how much they’re paying, as a Blade story on Tuesday by Columbus Bureau Chief Jim Provance showed.

The funding request from the Department of Public Safety for this fiscal year was vague, covering “ancillary expenses related to security and investigations,” including “dignitary protection.” It raised the total appropriation this year for highway patrol security and investigations from $9.7 million to $12.2 million.

But how much of those amounts went to Mr. Kasich’s security detail is unknown. PolitiFact of Ohio says at least $350,000 has gone to extra Kasich protection costs so far.

States typically provide round-the-clock protection to their governors and our state assigns it to the governor, no matter who the governor is, as a matter of law. But when the cost goes up because of something the governor is doing that does not relate to governing Ohio (running for president), Ohioans have an absolute right to know the precise cost. They also have a right to be reimbursed for that cost. 

The Kasich campaign should pay this secret bill. Not us.

First Published April 24, 2016, 6:39 a.m.