Austin, Texas --

At a time when state spending reductions were used to help offset a multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall, taxpayers were billed for more than $294,000 in security detail expenses for out-of-state trips by Gov. Rick Perry or his wife, according to records released by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Destinations included the Bahamas in January for a family vacation and trips to Amsterdam, Madrid and New York by Anita Perry alone - visits that Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said were for economic development.

Perry traveled to locales including New York, Washington, California and Las Vegas for events such as promotion of his anti-Washington book, "Fed Up," speeches, duties related to his then-chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association and meetings with business leaders or potential supporters for his presidential bid.

The state doesn't pay for many of the governor's direct travel costs, his campaign does, but the cost of the security detail is covered by the state.

Castle said the security detail is a Department of Public Safety policy, not from the governor's office. But Perry has previously said the state should pay those costs because he's "promoting Texas no matter where I go."

Observers said such costs undergo tougher scrutiny in tough budget times. State leaders instituted cost-cutting measures even before this year's legislative session, when lawmakers reduced spending in the face of a revenue shortfall.

"There are clearly many legitimate reasons for a governor to travel abroad or even the first lady to travel abroad, and for them to travel around the country. Given that he is a public figure, he does need security," said Mark Jones, professor of political science at Rice University.

"It's just that any expense that he engages in, in tough economic times, is going to merit a little more scrutiny," he said. "It's like what the governor asks of universities and asks of everybody else - a cost-benefit analysis.

More for you News Texas billed $294,000 for Perry's security on trips

"If the benefit outweighs the cost, then great," he said. "If, on the other hand, the state is getting no real benefit from the actual cost, then it has to be looked at a little more carefully."

The security detail tally from Perry's November re-election through July 21 is $294,096 for 30 out-of-state trips, according to records released by the Department of Public Safety in response to a public information request by the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle.

The department won't provide the number of officers traveling with Perry, citing security reasons.

The records also did not include the purpose of the trips. Those were provided by the governor's staff or found through news accounts. The expenses are for such items as food, lodging, airfare, baggage and parking for the security officers.

The expenses released late Thursday pre-date Perry's announcement for president. His expanded travel schedule is sure to raise the cost of security, as occurred under then-Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 race.

Perry campaign communications director Ray Sullivan said the campaign doesn't plan to reimburse the state for security expenses.

"We intend to follow precedent set by others since he's governor of Texas 100 percent of the time and as such (the department) provides security," Sullivan said by e-mail.

Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, said, "Most governors have security details, and those are expensive, but one has to wonder what the security threat to a governor is, and whether they need several state policemen and black, window-tinted SUVs in order to do their business."