City council voted in favour of austerity last Tuesday night when it unanimously voted not to increase per diem travel expenses.
City staff had recommended that the city consider increasing its rate to $80 a day to cover meals and incidentals while travelling on city business from $60.
However, council defeated the recommendation saying now was not the time.
“Timing is everything,” said Mayor Kerry Cook. “This is not the time.”
Council was presented with a report showing what other municipalities reimbursed staff for their per diem costs.
Chilliwack paid the actual cost, Quesnel paid $90 a day, Prince George $60, 100 Mile House $50, Kamloops $80 or actual cost and Kelowna $70.
Brian Carruthers, chief administrative officer for the city, noted that the funds are intended to reimburse staff for costs incurred while travelling on business and that staff can not claim reimbursement in situations where meals are provided. He further noted that the rates hadn’t been revised for six years.
Coun. Sue Zacharius queried whether it would be more cost effective to move to a system of actual cost reimbursement; however, Carruthers indicated that can cost more in staff time.
“It was more efficient to do the per diem,” he said.
Coun. Surinderpal Rathor agreed the timing wasn’t right.
“When we’re trying to make ends meet I think the recommendation is wrong,” he said.
In 2010, with the cost set at $60 per diem $6,240 was paid out; using the $80 reimbursement model $8,320 would have been compensated.