§ 2-84. Travel reimbursement policy.

(a)

Purpose. The Village of South Chicago Heights will reimburse employee and officer travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred in connection with pre-approved travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred on behalf of the Village of South Chicago Heights. Employees and officers are expected to exercise the same care in incurring expenses for official business as a prudent person would in spending personal funds.

(b)

Definitions.

Entertainment includes, but is not limited to, shows, amusements, theaters, circuses, sporting events, or any other place of public or private entertainment or amusement, unless ancillary to the purpose of the program or event.

Travel means any expenditure directly incident to official travel by employees and officers of the Village of South Chicago Heights or by wards or charges of the Village of South Chicago Heights involving reimbursement to travelers or direct payment to private agencies providing transportation or related services.

(c)

Authorized types of official business. Travel, meal and lodging expenses shall be reimbursed for employees and officers of Village of South Chicago Heights only for purposes of official business conducted on behalf of the Village of South Chicago Heights, which includes, but is not limited to, off-site or out-of-town meetings related to official business and pre-approved seminars, conferences and other educational events related to the employee's or officer's official duties.

(d)

Maximum allowable expenses.

Maximum expenses without board approval. Travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred by any employee in excess of $2,500.00 must be previously approved in an open meeting by a majority roll-call vote of the Village of South Chicago Heights.

Airfare. Travelers are expected to obtain the lowest available airfare that reasonably meets business travel needs. Travelers are encouraged to book flights at least 30 days in advance to avoid premium airfare pricing. Only coach or economy tickets will be paid or reimbursed. The traveler will pay for the difference between higher priced tickets and coach or economy tickets with his or her personal funds.

(Optional) Personal automobiles. Travelers must check to see if an agency vehicle is available before asking for approval to use their personal vehicles. Use of a personal vehicle for business must be approved prior to the use. Mileage reimbursement will be based on mileage from the work location office to the off-site location of the official business, not from the employee's or officer's residence. When attending a training event or other off-site official business directly from an employee's or officer's residence, no reimbursement will be made if the distance is less than the mileage of a normal commute to the workplace. If the distance is higher than the employee's or officer's normal commute, reimbursement will be paid based on the differential of the commute less the mileage of a normal commute to the workplace. An employee or officer will be reimbursed at the prevailing IRS mileage rate. The traveler will only be reimbursed up to the price of a coach airfare ticket if they drive to a location for which airfare would have been less expensive.

Automobile rentals. Travelers will be reimbursed for the cost of renting an automobile including gasoline expense only as limited in this section. Travelers using rental cars to conduct official business are required to purchase insurance through the rental agency. Car rental insurance will cover the vehicle during personal use, e.g., using the vehicle after the conference has ended. Compact or mid-size cars are required for two or fewer employees or officers traveling together and a full-size vehicle may be used for three or more travelers. The traveler must refuel the vehicle before returning it to the rental company.

Public transportation. In the case of local training or official business where an employee or officer chooses to use public transportation, reimbursement for use of public transportation is based on mileage from the agency office to the training site (not from the traveler's residence), regardless of the transportation method chosen. When attending training or business directly from an employee's or officer's residence, no reimbursement will be made if the distance is less than the mileage of a normal commute to the workplace. If the distance is higher than the traveler's normal commute, reimbursement will [be] paid at the differential of the commute less the mileage of a normal commute to the workplace.

Other transportation. The traveler should utilize hotel shuttle service or other shuttle services, if available. If none are offered, the use of the most economic transportation is encouraged.

Hotel/motel accommodations. The traveler will be reimbursed for a standard single-room at locations convenient to the business activity. In the event of a change in plans or a cancellation, the traveler must cancel the hotel/motel reservation so as not to incur cancellation charges. Cancellation charges will not be reimbursed by the district unless approved by a vote of the Village of South Chicago Heights.

Meals. Meal reimbursement is limited to the current U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) regulations in place at the time the expense is occurred.

(If public body allows a per diem) Prior approval by the Village of South Chicago Heights and submission of receipts are required for per diem allowances. Meals provided by the conference or seminar should be deducted from the per diem allowance. Partial reimbursement may be made for departure and return days based on time. Meals during in-state travel that is not an overnight stay will be reimbursed for actual cost not to exceed the GSA regulations.

Vacation in conjunction with business travel. In cases where vacation time is added to a business trip, any cost variance in airfare, car rental, lodging and/or any other expenses must be clearly identified on the travel, meal, and lodging expense report form and paid by the traveler.

Accompanied travel. When a traveler is accompanied by others not on official business, any lodging, transportation, meals or other expenses above those incurred for the authorized traveler will not be reimbursed by the Village of South Chicago Heights.

Parking. Parking fees at a hotel/motel will be reimbursed only with a receipt.

(e)

Approval of expenses. Travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred by any employee in excess of $2,500.00 must be previously approved in an open meeting by a majority roll-call vote of the Village of South Chicago Heights.

Travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred by any member of the Village of South Chicago Heights must be approved by roll call vote at an open meeting of the governing board or corporate authorities of the local public agency.

Travel, meal, and lodging expenses advanced as a per diem to any employee or any member of the Village of South Chicago Heights must be approved by roll call vote at an open meeting of the Village of South Chicago Heights prior to payment. Documentation of expenses must be provided in accordance with subsections (c), (d) and (f) of this policy, and any excess from the per diem must be repaid.

(f)

Documentation of expenses. Before an expense for travel, meals, or lodging may be approved under subsection (e) of this policy, the following minimum documentation must first be submitted, in writing, to the Village of South Chicago Heights on a travel, meal, and lodging expense form:

(1)

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;

(2)

The name of the individual who received or is requesting the travel, meal, or lodging expense;

(3)

The job title or office of the individual who received or is requesting the travel, meal, or lodging expense; and

(4)

The date or dates and nature of the official business for which the travel, meal, or lodging expense was or will be expended.

All documents and information submitted under this section are public records subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Village of South Chicago Heights hereby adopts as its official standardized form for the submission of travel, meal, and lodging expenses the travel, meal, and lodging expense report form attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A.

(g)

Entertainment expenses. No employee or officer shall be reimbursed for any entertainment expense, unless ancillary to the purpose of the program, event or other official business.

(Ord. No. 2016-22, § 1, 12-19-2016)