163.04 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, TRAVEL AND TRAINING.

   (a)   The expenses for employees who are required or requested by the City Manager to travel on City business or to attend training schools, seminars or other instructional or educational programs including examinations to increase their knowledge and further their competency in their occupation with the City, and the expenses for elected and appointed officials for travel and/or training in conjunction with their official duties shall be paid by the City as follows:

(1)   Registration fees, tuition or charges for the training school seminar or educational or other instructional program.

(2)   A per diem meal allowance for each required travel day in accordance with the M&IE (meals and incidental expenses) rates established by the Federal General Services Administration (GSA), a copy of which current rates shall be maintained on file in the office of the Finance Director; receipts for actual expenditures in excess of the applicable M&IE rate will not be reimbursed unless authorized by the City Manager, but in no case shall reimbursement be provided for alcoholic beverages.

(3)   The standard mileage rate allowed by the Internal Revenue Service for business purposes when an employee is not provided a City-owned vehicle and the mileage is not covered by a vehicle use allowance to the employee. Bus, train or air fare at tourist rate is provided for lengthy trips, when such method of travel is approved by the City Manager or officials.

(4)   Single occupancy hotel or motel charge.

(5)   Salary or hourly rate will be paid when schools, etc. are attended during employee's normal work day.

(6)   Travel pay for time actually spent in travel to and from schools, etc. shall be paid at the employee's normal hourly rate or at one and one-half times the normal rate depending upon whether such travel time is over and above employee's normal scheduled work hours.

   (b)   Checks are to be issued in advance of the attendance of the employee or official for items specified in subsections (a)(1), (2) and (4) hereof. Expenses shall be verified by the employee or official submitting an itemized expense account for items specified in subsection (a)(1), (3) and (4) within fifteen days of completion. Item (a)(2) shall be paid only when Item (a)(4) is required and an itemized expense account with receipts for meals shall be required for reimbursements in excess of the standard allowances specified. However, the City will pay eight dollars ($8.00) for lunch money for full day training schools or seminars where lunch is not included in admission cost.

   (c)   In the event of overpayment of estimated expenses, the employee or official shall deliver payment for the difference when filing his/her expense account. In the event of underpayment, the City shall issue a check for the difference on or before the date of the paycheck of the employee or official for the next pay period.

(Ord. 99-05. Passed 5-9-05.)