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Council directs staff to draft elected-official travel policy after reviewing staff procedures
Summary
After reviewing the town’s staff travel procedure, council members asked staff to return with a formal policy for elected officials setting reimbursement guidelines, including a proposed 50-mile threshold for lodging/mileage limitations.
The Fountain Hills Town Council on Tuesday reviewed town staff travel procedures and directed staff to prepare a separate travel-and-training policy for elected officials.
Town manager Rachel and Finance Director Paul outlined the existing staff travel procedure — a 2016 administrative policy that requires preauthorization for travel outside Maricopa County or out of state, uses federal mileage rates, and requires department-level approvals. Council members noted there is currently no council-specific written policy and that elected officials have historically handled travel and lodging individually, often using the town’s annual stipend or departmental budgets for conferences such as the Arizona League of Cities and Towns.
Council member Skilikorn said he wanted clearer rules for elected officials and proposed a draft direction that would bar lodging reimbursements for elected officials for travel under 50 miles and limit mileage reimbursements under that threshold; another council member seconded the proposal. Several council members opposed immediate action without a formal agenda item, but council provided direction to staff to draft a policy specific to elected officials and return with language for formal adoption.
Discussion covered common situations: one council member noted the League of Cities and Towns conference sometimes requires early arrivals and late-night meetings that can make overnight stays reasonable even for relatively short drives; others raised concerns about perceived fairness and budget impacts. Vice Mayor Larrabee said he wanted a policy in the books rather than waiting for an incident. Council members asked staff to propose clear guidelines and to reconcile any stipend with allowable travel reimbursements.
Staff will prepare a council-specific travel/training policy outlining preauthorization, allowable reimbursements, mileage thresholds, and any stipend adjustments; the document will return to council for formal action.
