County raises gas pay

By Rich Flowers

May 07, 2008 09:21 am

— The Henderson County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to pump-up the automobile mileage reimbursement rate for county employees by six cents a gallon.
Commissioners say they are also planning to discuss at a later date whether they, too, should receive some sort of mileage compensation.
The increase brings the county reimbursement to 50.5 cents per mile, equal to the amount given to state employees as of Jan. 1, 2008.
County auditor Ann Marie Lee explained the reimbursement compensates an employee for using a private vehicle to travel from one location to another for job related reasons.
“In other words, (since) I’m driving my own truck, I could start turning in mileage every week for it?” Pct. 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence asked.
County Judge David Holstein said the commissioners had money that used to go to a car allowance built into their salaries. Pct. 4 Commissioner Jerry West said he and Pct. 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney were on the court when that policy was changed.
“What happened was, we used to get a car allowance,” West said. “That included the commissioners, the county judge and the sheriff. We got a separate check for the car allowance with only Social Security taken out.”
West said former County Auditor Winston Duke discussed the arrangement with the Internal Revenue Service and determined federal withholding taxes should be removed from the allowance. Commissioners decided to add the car allowance to those officials’ regular salaries so they could receive retirement benefits on the entire amount.
“From that point on, the commissioners, county judge and sheriff have no longer received a car allowance,” West said.
Lawrence said he is the only commissioner who does not drive a county truck and is feeling the effects of increased gas prices.
“This mileage and fuel is eating me up,” Lawrence said.
West said he does not see a problem with commissioners having a county vehicle available after hours.
“Commissioners are probably called out from home after hours more than any one else in the county. That includes the sheriff’s department, constables and anyone else if you want to check it out,” West said.
West said the judge and commissioners also travel outside the county on business, such as picking up parts and supplies for the precincts or attending a conference.
“I’m not saying we should all start turning in mileage for reimbursement, because I think county vehicles are available to the commissioners if the wish to use them,” West said.
Holstein said the commissioners could discuss how the mileage reimbursement applied to commissioners at a later meeting.
In other action, commissioners:
• approved increasing the pauper burial reimbursement from $200 to $500;
• approved a proposal from Suddenlink to provide cable television service for the Henderson County Jail; and
• paid bills in the amount of $638,908.92.