Monday November 6, 2023 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
It costs money to travel.
City of Langford council is looking to increase the per diem (daily expense coverage) that is paid to members of council who travel on municipal business, such as to conferences and official meetings.
On this matter, today the City of Langford issued a statement to media:
- “Given the public interest in this matter, the City is sharing the following information.”
- “Based on the current wording and age of the Travel Expense Policy, from 2006, it has long been the practice for City of Langford elected officials to choose to claim the full per diem when attending a conference. Council members, past and present, have applied this long-standing practice for conference attendance. The $60 per diem amount in the Travel Expense Policy has not been adjusted for inflation since 2006.”
- “It is anticipated that an updated Policy will come forward to Council for consideration in the new year.”
- “With respect to Mayor Goodmanson’s travel, the Mayor travelled with two family members who paid for all of their own expenses associated with the trip. This too has been a practice of various Council members over the years since the City’s incorporation. Unfortunately, Mayor Goodmanson missed his return flight from Toronto to Victoria due to issues beyond his control, which resulted in a change of flight to later in the day.”
Not updated since 2006:
The Travel Expense Policy has not been updated for 17 years. It should be noted that most if not all members of the previous long-term council were independently wealthy or at least ably financially secure. They probably thought they were doing the City a favour by not claiming more for travel expenses. But this did not keep the municipal rules up with the times.
An updated policy will come forward in the new year (as stated above by the City of Langford).
Council meeting November 6:
Meanwhile, there is a City of Langford council meeting this evening, November 6, 2023 at 7 pm, including some time for public participation for items that are on tonight’s agenda.
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