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Commissioners debate switching to GSA mileage rate, defer changes on vehicle‑use policy
Summary
Board members discussed changing personal‑vehicle reimbursement to the GSA rate, rules about spouses driving county vehicles and home‑take vehicles, and fleet size; the commission asked staff for cost numbers and to return with a revised draft on Tuesday.
Bannock County commissioners on Jan. 8 reviewed proposed revisions to vehicle‑use and mileage reimbursement policy and agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting.
Key topics included whether to tie personal‑vehicle reimbursement to the federal GSA standard rather than the current 45¢ per mile, whether to pay round‑trip mileage when employees use personal vehicles because no county vehicle is available, and whether spouses or other non‑employees may be authorized to drive county vehicles. Commissioner speakers urged caution about budget impacts if the county adopted the higher GSA rate immediately; one commissioner suggested increasing the flat rate (for example to 60¢ or 65¢) and adjusting annually at budget time. Matthew Phillips, HR and risk director, told the board the county's insurance (iCRMP) allows "permissive use" coverage for authorized drivers but that the commission may lawfully restrict vehicle use more narrowly than the insurer does.
Commissioners also discussed the number of fleet vehicles and whether reimbursing personal vehicles could be more cost‑effective than maintaining underused fleet vehicles. The board requested a list of employees authorized to take vehicles home and asked staff to compile per‑vehicle cost and fleet‑size analyses to inform a revised policy. No vote was taken; commissioners asked staff to return with a redraft and numerical analysis at the Tuesday meeting.
