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<br />Summary: The Auditor’s Office has completed an update to the County Travel Policy in coordination <br />with the Policy Committee and Management Team. The policy has now been endorsed by these groups <br />and reviewed by the PAO. The next step for formal approval is a resolution from the BOCC adopting the <br />revised policy. Here is a summary of the significant changes: <br />• Administrative cleanup to reflect updated county policy format. <br />• Updated language requiring use of county credit card for booking hotels (exception provided for <br />emergency situations.) <br />• Updated language reflecting that travelers may use their own travel membership ID to accrue <br />points while traveling on official business but may not use points to book their own travel or <br />allow membership with a specific hotel chain to influence decisions in a way that incurs <br />additional cost to the county. <br />• Meal Reimbursement changed to allow for a “daily” meal reimbursement if a traveler is out of <br />county and away from their office and/or home for more than eight hours in a given day, but <br />does not choose to stay overnight in a hotel. The daily meal reimbursement reflects the <br />combined breakfast/lunch reimbursement rates ($31.) <br />• Dietary restrictions clause added whereby a traveler who cannot consume a meal at a <br />conference, due to a bonified dietary restriction may be reimbursed for that meal. <br />• Vehicle/Mileage updates: <br />o Official travel in personal vehicle within the county will not be reimbursed (exception if <br />department/motorpool vehicle is unavailable.) <br />o Official travel in a personal vehicle outside of county is authorized and the traveler will <br />be reimbursed at the actual IRS rate for the distance between the courthouse and the <br />official travel destination. <br />o Updated language to reflect use of Google Maps and other generally accepted mileage <br />apps as official sources for reimbursement. <br />• Reimbursement of Training: EO/DH discretion when requiring employees to complete the <br />training reimbursement agreement form. <br />Resolution also reflects language that sets mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate unless amended by <br />the BOCC. This would enable the Auditors Office to adjust the reimbursement rate (in alignment with <br />IRS changes) without returning to the BOCC for an updated resolution each year. <br />Recommendation: BOCC adopts updated Travel Policy via Resolution. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Topic: <br />Request Approval of Updated <br />County Travel Policy <br />Meeting: <br /> BOCC October 17th, 2023 <br />Proposal by: <br />Bryan Elliott, County Auditor on behalf <br />of Kittitas County Veterans Coalition