Times are changing, and so will the way Salmon Arm council is reimbursed for travel expenses.
Monica Dalziel, the city’s chief financial officer, explains that a couple of decades ago, flights were more expensive so if council members preferred to fly to a conference, it would generally be a more expensive trip than driving.
The policy on travel expenses has meant the city would reimburse council for the cheapest method, factoring in parking, mileage, cheapest flights and more.
However, with the advent of cheaper airline travel, the costs of driving and flying have become much closer.
“Now it will be based on how they actually travel – that will be reimbursed, rather than this complicated comparison,” Dalziel told the Market News. “It just makes more sense to base it on how they’re travelling.”
She notes the amounts allowed are always subject to budget constraints, so driving to Toronto, for instance, wouldn’t be feasible.
Staff will be forwarding a report to council for its perusal.