Cost to California for Michael Jackson's funeral... Why?

Please don't get me wrong here, as I have no intention of disrespecting Michael Jackson. He was a very talented person and a terrific entertainer. In a way, an American icon. It's also very sad whenever someone passes away, especially someone as giving as Michael, and someone loved by so many.

My objections are ONLY directed to the fact that the state of California, of which I live in, will be out $3+ million to provide police and other support for his memorial service.

Why?

Why are we, a financially strapped state, already in debt to the extent that we are cutting government jobs, and school programs, flipping the bill for this? Why doesn't AEG pay for this? They were the promoter of Michael Jackson, and stands to actually gain money from his death.

Someone once said that his memorial service could bring a lot of money to the hotels and other businesses in the area, but so what? Me, Joe blow tax payer, will not see a cent of that money. Yet part of my tax money is being used for this.

How 'bout instead of spending $3 million on this service, we put it into our school system? Or for that matter, why don't the people who sacrificed their lives in Iraq get such a service?

This just makes no sense to me.

Michael Jackson certainly deserves to be remembered, and many people feel the need for closure, and to mourn. However, isn't that a very private thing? Do we need a multimillion dollar service, especially at the tax payer's expense?

Michael Jackson, may he rest in peace.