HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-12-2005-5j1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 12, 2005
Action Ager~a ~
Item No. ~_
SUBJECT: Proposed Adjustment in Commissioners Local Travel Expense
DEPARTMENT: Board of County PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commissioner Moses Carey
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider an adjustment in the Board of Commissioners local travel expense to
account for inflation and recent gas prices increases.
BACKGROUND: The current local travel allowance expense for Commissioners equals $150
per month ($1,800 per year) for the Chair and $125 per month for each of the other four Board
members ($1,500 per month per member for a total $6,000 per year). In July 2002, when the
Board approved the current rates, those amounts were sufficient for travel allowances because
the average price of a gallon of gasoline ranged from 95 to 99 cents per gallon.
As a point of comparison, the average cost per gallon of gasoline today ranges from $2.20 to
$2.25 per gallon. A proportionate comparison of the change in gas prices to Commissioners'
travel allowance would support an increase in the travel allotment from the current levels of
$150 per month for the Chair and $125 per month for board members (including the Vice Chair)
per month to somewhere in the neighborhood of $330 and $275 respectively, These rates
equate to an increase of $183 per month for the Chair and $150 for other Board members.
With the County's current and anticipated fiscal picture in mind, the Chair proposes a more
modest increase that would set the local travel allowance expense for Commissioners at $275
per month for the chair and $225 per month for Board members (including the Vice Chair). The
proposed rates reflect an increase of $125 per month for the Chair and an increase of $100 per
month for Board members other than the Chair. The Chair proposes that the increase be
effective on April 1, 2005.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Based on the proposed reimbursement rates outlined in the background
section above, the financial impact for the current year (April 1 through June 30, 2005) totals
$1,575, with the financial impact for the upcoming 2005-06 fiscal year totals $6,300. There are
sufficient funds in the Commissioners' current year budget to cover the proposed increase.
2
Shculd the Board approve the proposed increase, the Manager's Recommended 2005-06
budget would allow for the increase of $6,300 in travel allowances for Commissioners.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proposal to
adjust the Board of Commissioners local travel expense to account for inflation and recent gas
prices increase and increase the travel allotment from the current levels of $150 per month for
the Chair and $125 per month for the other Board members (including the Vice Chair) to $275
per month for the Chair and $225 per month for the other Board members (including the Vice-
Chair) effective on April 1, 2005.