HARRISBURG — It costs at least $3 million a year to provide round-the-clock security for Pennsylvania’s governor, lieutenant governor and their families, a newspaper reported Monday.

The cost includes salary, overtime and benefits for the Pennsylvania State Police’s executive service section, The Patriot-News of Harrisburg said.

That figure does not include travel and other expenses while they are doing their job.

Acting state police Commissioner Frank Noonan defended the cost as necessary, even while state government is facing cutbacks to address a projected multibillion-dollar deficit.

“The shooting of Rep. (Gabrielle) Giffords in Arizona just shows you that these things can happen at any time,” Noonan told the newspaper.

Noonan said he has tried to reduce overtime costs through scheduling and by assigning fewer higher-paid ranking officers to it.