<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xml:base="https://millertracy.com" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"> <channel> <title>Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd. - expenses</title> <link>https://millertracy.com/tags/expenses</link> <description></description> <language>en</language> <item> <title>Local Government Travel Expense Control Act</title> <link>https://millertracy.com/content/local-government-travel-expense-control-act</link> <description><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div class="ArticleHead" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #1c3664;" data-gcf-font-size="14pt">On July 22, 2016, Governor Rauner signed the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act, which requires all local public agencies to regulate the reimbursement of all travel, meal, and lodging expenses of its officers and employees. The Act applies to all local public agencies, including: school districts, community college districts, or units of local government.</div> <div class="MainText" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;" align="justify" data-gcf-font-size="10pt"> <div> </div> <div><strong>Regulation of Travel Expenses by Resolution or Ordinance</strong></div> <div><strong> </strong></div> <div>On or after June 30, 2017, a local public agency cannot approve or pay for travel, meal, or lodging expenses unless it first adopts a resolution or ordinance regarding the reimbursement of those expenses. The resolution or ordinance must regulate, at a minimum:</div> <div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">1) <span style="font-size: 10pt;">the types of official business for which travel, meal, and lodging expenses are allowed;</span></div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">2) maximum allowable reimbursement for travel, meal, and lodging expenses; and</div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">3) a standardized form for submission of travel, meal, and lodging expenses supported by minimum documentation.</div> <div> </div> <div>The Act also provides that a resolution or ordinance may allow for the approval of expenses that exceed the established maximum allowable reimbursement because of emergency or extraordinary circumstances.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Documentation of Expenses</strong></div> <div> </div> <div>Before an individual's travel expenses may be approved, the following minimum documentation must be submitted:</div> <div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">1) <span style="font-size: 10pt;">an estimate of the cost of travel, meals, or lodging if expenses have not been incurred or a receipt of the cost of the travel, meals, or lodging if the expenses have already been incurred;</span></div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">2) the name of the individual who received or is requesting the travel, meal, or lodging expense;</div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">3) the job title or office of the individual who received or is requesting the travel, meal, or lodging expense; and</div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">4) the date(s) and nature of the official business in which the travel, meal, or lodging expense was (or will be) expended.</div> <div> </div> <div>All of the documents and information submitted are public records subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Approval of Expenses</strong></div> <div> </div> <div>On or after March 2, 2017, any travel, meals, and lodging expenses of</div> <div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">1) <span style="font-size: 10pt;">an officer or employee that exceed the maximum allowable reimbursement permitted under the agency's resolution or ordinance; or</span></div> <div style="margin-left: 30px;">2) any member of the governing board or corporate authorities of the local public agency </div> <div><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">must be approved by roll call vote at an open meeting of the governing board of the local public agency. Thus, while an officer or an employee need only submit their expenses for approval by roll call vote if they exceed the maximum amount allowable under the resolution or ordinance, a member of the governing board or corporate authorities must always submit his/her expenses for approval by roll call vote at an open meeting of the governing board.</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div><strong>Reimbursement of Entertainment Expenses</strong></div> <div> </div> <p>The Local Government Travel Expense Control Act prohibits local public agencies from reimbursing governing board members, employees, or officers for any entertainment expense, unless the entertainment is ancillary to the purpose of the program or event. The Act defines "entertainment" broadly to include shows, amusements, theaters, circuses, sporting events, or any other place of public or private entertainment or amusement. </p></div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/boards" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Boards</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/expenses" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">expenses</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/reimbursement" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">reimbursement</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/new-laws" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new laws</a></div></div></div></description> <pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2016 13:37:26 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Christine G. Christensen</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">108 at https://millertracy.com</guid> </item> </channel> </rss>