County looks at travel pay

Temporary employment, payroll sheets and use of county autos topped Monday's discussions at the regular meeting of the Freestone county commissioners' court.

County auditor Brittania Blanks told commissioners at the meeting that IRS guidelines direct users of county vehicles to either park the vehicles at their offices at the end of the day, or to consider the miles driven to and from home as income, with taxes deducted accordingly.

Only a few county employees are affected by the guidelines, and most will work out the issue with their supervisors. However, county emergency management coordinator and environmental health officer Loren Miller is under the supervision of the county court, and he gave commissioners his take on the issue.

"This doesn't sit too well with me," he said. "When I took the job, part of the wages was that the county would provide a vehicle for me."

Miller's additional taxes on the added "income" would be about $50 per month, and he said that with the raise he didn't get, it adds up.

"Can you compensate me for the loss of income?" he asked. "I don't blame the county for the laws, but I often respond to calls straight from home." Miller lives in the Butler area, and as part of his job description, can be called at any time for septic inspections, animal control, or to investigate illegal dumping.

Because a change in income was not on the agenda, commissioners could not address that particular part of the question.

"If it pleases the court, I would like everyone to brainstorm and come up with an answer," Miller said.

Commissioners voted to let Miller make the choice of leaving the vehicle at work, or pay the taxes. A decision would have to be made before the next payroll deadline of Feb. 11, or Mrs. Blanks says the taxes will be automatically deducted.

Incorrect time sheets could mean incorrect paychecks for county employees, effective immediately.

Although county policy is to make no changes on the time sheets, in the past, the county payroll department has "adjusted" vacation, sick leave and comp time line items for employees when the wrong line item was indicated. The new system however, does not allow for changes without a delay, and Mrs. Blanks asked commissioners if she should create the delay when she sees a red flag, or let the time sheet go through exactly as it is submitted.

"They must fill out the time sheet correctly, or they will lose pay," she pointed out.

Commissioners decided to take no action, which essentially means time sheets will be processed exactly like they are submitted, regardless of mistakes.

On a special meeting agenda, time periods for temporary employees was discussed, but commissioners were unable to decide the issue, and asked for the item to be tabled.