Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney’s February campaign event at Arapahoe High School
On Monday, the sheriff re-sent a bill to Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney's campaign, in an attempt to recoup the costs of providing security for a February campaign event at Arapahoe High School.
The $25,058 bill was for overtime and other expenses incurred by deputies providing security at the event.
Romney's campaign declined to comment on the sheriff's bill, referring 9NEWS to the US Secret Service.
"In my mind, this is not an issue that's relevant to the secret service. This is between the sheriff's office, the taxpayers of Arapahoe County, and the campaigns," Robinson said.
But a secret service spokesman confirmed it is relevant to his agency, saying the US Secret Service is responsible for all security details surrounding protected candidates, including coordinating with local police and deputies.
The secret service says the rules are clear.
"We do not pay for police overtime for protected visits, nor do we have a mechanism in place to do so," Agent Max Milien, a spokesman for the agency said.
Milien says the appropriate time for a local law enforcement agency to raise concerns about the financial burden of helping a protected candidate is during the advance planning stages, when the secret service asks for help.
If a local sheriff were to report being unable to help for financial reasons, Milien says, "we simply reach out to another agency whether it be local or state, to facilitate in completing our mission."
In response, Robinson says his is simply appealing to campaigns to do "the right thing" and pitch in to help cover his office's costs, despite the fact that the rules clearly do not require them to do so.
"That may well be true," said Robinson. "But I still believe the campaigns are responsible."
Robinson says it is not a partisan issue. He also plans to send a bill to the Obama campaign for an event last month in which First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the same high school.
The costs are still being tallied, but are expected to total about $14,000, Robinson said.
The Obama campaign has not responded to our request for comment on whether it will pay the bill.
The sheriff says his is the only Colorado law enforcement agency he knows of seeking repayment for providing campaign security, but a handful of other jurisdictions around the country are taking similar steps.
Robinson says it's not fair to expect Arapahoe County taxpayers to foot the bill to protect well-funded candidates.
Arapahoe county is viewed as an important swing county in an important swing state. It is expected to host many more campaign events.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)