OK House approves travel allowance increase for county officials
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) - Lawmakers have secured passage of a bill that would raise the monthly travel allowance by $300 for county officials.
Under Senate Bill 951, the travel allowance for county commissioners and sheriffs would increase from $700 to up to $1,000 per month; county assessors from $600 to up to $900; and county clerks, court clerks and county treasurers from $500 to up to $800. The measure also provides for county officer monthly travel allowances to be increased by 2% annually.
The money would reportedly come from county budgets and have no direct impact on the state budget or state appropriations.
"Many of our county officials use their own personal vehicles, and this increase simply keeps pace with rising costs for gas, insurance and vehicle maintenance expenses," says Rep. Justin Humphrey, who worked with county officials on the language of the bill. "This actually represents a savings for many of our counties rather than asking them to supply each official a county-owned vehicle."
Sen. Chris Kidd is the principal Senate author of the bill.
“This will provide our county officials with a much-needed financial boost to cover their ever-increasing travel expenses as they conduct their official duties,” says Kidd. “I’m thankful for the bipartisan support from both chambers to get this bill to the governor’s desk.”
The bill now moves to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law.
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