Now that Gov. Rick Perry isn’t running for president anymore, Texas taxpayers are beginning to find out how much we’ll have to pay for his campaign.

Mainly, that cost has been for out-of-state travel for the security detail that covered Perry and his wife, Anita.

Between November 2010 and November 2011, the governor’s security detail cost more than $ 1.1 million. And since Perry traveled a lot more out of state between November and the end of his presidential campaign in January, the final bill is bound to be much larger.

So far, the governor doesn’t seem inclined to reimburse the state. He has defended the practice of the state paying his security bill because he promotes Texas wherever he goes. But his campaign excursions haven’t done much for Texas’ image.

We think he should cover this tab. Why shouldn’t campaign costs be paid for with campaign funds?

Perry raised a staggering amount of money for his campaign, then stayed in the race long after his chances of winning evaporated.

Is he really going to stick Texas taxpayers with the bill he ran up? Even though he could afford to pay it? Even though he ought to?

Yes, letting the state pick up the tab would be legal. The Department of Public Safety has a policy of providing security for Texas governors and their families everywhere they travel. Perry simply took advantage of that.

But just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s right.

Nothing about the governor’s presidential campaign directly served the state of Texas. And Perry, after so much campaign talk of lean government and low taxes, ought to set an example.

Maybe there’s never a good time for a politician to ask taxpayers to pay for his campaign. But this, most definitely, is not a good time.

In the last round of state budget cuts, Perry prodded the Texas Legislature to slash funding even for necessities. Thousands of teachers lost their jobs. Financial aid for the neediest college students shriveled. And in a year of record- setting wildfires, Texas’ volunteer firefighting agencies have been limping along with less than a third of their 2010 state funding.

So come on, governor. Pay your bill. It’s the right thing to do.

— Houston Chronicle