Kudos to Medina for asking those putting on big presidential fundraisers in the city to pay for the extra costs it takes to help provide security. There’s no reason taxpayers there should have to foot the bill.

The issue came up after former Costco CEO Jim Sinegal hosted a fundraiser for President Obama in his Hunts Point home. Hunts Point contracts with Medina to provide police protection.

Credit new Medina City Manager Mike Sauerwein for balking at the expense. Providing police presence for such fundraisers can amount to 10 percent of the city’s police budget.

Sauerwein didn’t just make a snap decision on this. Since 2005, a Medina ordinance required those putting on the fundraisers to pay for the extra police costs. That it hasn’t been enforced doesn’t mean the practice should be continued. Sauerwein is right and Medina should be reimbursed.

– Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter