Commission adopts revised travel policy with per‑diem limits and spending guidelines

The Lee County Commission approved a revised travel policy that adds dollar limits for meals and daily spending and clarifies budgeting responsibilities for appointed authorities.

Commissioner Morris, who moved the measure, said the revised policy is preferable to the earlier version because “it has dollar amounts, for restrictions on meals and that kind of thing,” and that “the only thing that makes this one, in my opinion, better is that it has guidelines in place for spending.”

During discussion commissioners asked whether reverting to the original travel policy would create inconsistencies with department or elected‑official travel rules; supporters said elected officials historically maintained their own policies and the revised policy primarily adds explicit spending limits. The revision also places responsibility on appointing authorities to ensure employees’ travel is budgeted and to seek permission if travel would exceed budgets.

A motion to adopt the revised travel policy was seconded and passed on a roll call vote. The adopted policy’s text, as presented, includes daily dollar limits and language requiring departmental budgeting and accountability; the meeting record did not specify the exact per‑diem amounts beyond the discussion noting “dollar amounts” were included.

The commission did not direct immediate changes to existing departmental or elected‑official travel rules beyond the countywide adoption; implementation steps and enforcement procedures were not detailed at the meeting.