HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016_01 Travel ResolutionKITTITAS COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO._2016-_______
Resolution Amending Kittitas County’s Travel Policy
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners on March 23, 1999, adopted Resolution No. 99-
35, amending Kittitas County’s travel policy, to establish reimbursement rates for employees who travel
on county business, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners on December 28, 1999 per Resolution No. 99-
142 authorized the Board to approve the travel reimbursement rates via board motion.
WHEREAS, Kittitas County has an accountable travel plan that meets the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) guidelines, and
WHEREAS, Kittitas County currently uses the high-low substantiation method of reimbursement
for per diem, of lodging and meals, and the IRS reviews and adjusts these reimbursement rates, at least
annually.
WHEREAS, the IRS has issued the rates for 2016 for travel per diem reimbursement for the high-
low areas, and
WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners review the travel reimbursement rates to
establish fiscal accountability.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of County Commissioners hereby amends
the travel reimbursement per diem rates, effective January 1, 2016 as follows:
1. The mileage reimbursement for the use of one’s personal vehicle according to the IRS
effective January 1, 2016 will decrease to 54 cents per mile;
2. The maximum hotel per diem reimbursement is $128.00 for low cost area and $207.00
for high cost area (these rates do not include taxes).
3. The meal per diem rate will be allowed only if traveling away from home overnight at the
following:
Low Rates High Rates
Breakfast $ 9.00 $ 11.00
Lunch 14.00 17.00
Dinner 29.00 35.00
Incidentals* 5.00 5.00
TOTAL $ 57.00 $ 68.00
4. Travel Authorization approved in advance by the Board of County Commissioners will be
required for all county employees under the following situations:
a. For travel not included in the departmental budget.
5. It is the commitment of Kittitas County to develop its human resources through training
and performance development efforts. Therefore, whenever an employing official deems
it necessary to send one of their employees to a certifiable training program the
employee should recognize the professional benefit they and the County will receive.
The employee should also be cognizant of the expense the county will incur to train the
employee. To that end, if the training certifies the employee, the employee will be
Travel Policy Amendment
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required to remain employed after the training with the county for 4 months, for every
$1,000.00 (registration, travel costs and per diem) expended on such training.
ADOPTED this 5th day of January 2016.
BOARD OF CO COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
____________________________
Chairman
___________________________
Vice-Chairman
ATTEST
____________________________
Commissioner
________________________
Clerk of the Board
*Incidental expenses. The term “incidental expenses_ has the same meaning as in the Federal Travel Regulations, 41 C.F.R.
300-3.1 (2010). The Federal Travel Regulations currently include as incidental expenses fees and tips given to porters, baggage
carriers, bellhops, hotel maids, stewards or stewardesses and others on ships, and hotel servants in foreign countries;
transportation between places of lodging or business and places where meals are taken, if suitable meals can be obtained at the
temporary duty site; and the mailing cost associated with filing travel vouchers and payment of employer-sponsored charge card
billings.