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Committee authorizes flexible use of commissioners' $12,500 event allowance to fund aide housing stipends up to $300/month
Summary
Committee approved language allowing commissioners the discretion to use part of their existing $12,500 per-year events/travel allocation to provide a housing stipend (suggested up to $300 per month) to their office aides; HR noted the stipend is taxable to employees.
The committee approved a change allowing commissioners to use portions of their existing $12,500 annual events/travel allowance to provide a housing stipend to their commissioners’ aides, with staff advising that the stipend would be taxable income to the employee.
The item (MB16) was introduced as a proposal for a $500-per-month stipend for each commissioner’s aide. After discussion about budget constraints and existing allocations, the proposal was revised so each commissioner may elect to use part of the approved annual $12,500 per-commissioner allocation for official expenses to fund a housing allowance for the aide assigned to that commissioner. Human Resources Assistant Director Lorraine Bravo advised the committee that “that money, whatever the amount is, will be taxable to the employee.”
Staff and the city attorney will prepare amended resolution language and administrative procedures and add guardrails (public-purpose use, no campaign payments) to ensure compliance. The committee approved the operational approach and directed administration to prepare the final resolution for commission consideration.
