In a few weeks, Surfside Beach council members could get $100 a day for overnight trips and that doesn't include covering all the costs.
NewsChannel 15 was the only TV station at the Surfside council meeting Monday night as they discussed changing their per diem rate.
Town Administrator Jim Duckett presented the idea initially to the council, as a way to save on paperwork and to be more efficient.
Surfside Beach Mayor Allen Deaton says this move would make the few trips they make a year easier.
Right now, council members use per diem rates that are determined by the U.S. General Services Administration. That rate allows for about $50 a day to cover incidentals like gas, tolls, and tips for a trip to Columbia, where Deaton says council travels the most. It also factors in $5 on other expenses-not including meals.
Under the new plan, council would get $100 a day and would not have to submit receipts to be reimbursed, but just for the smaller things like gas, meals, or parking fees. They would still have to submit receipts to be reimbursed airfare,car rental, or hotel costs.
Deaton says even with the change, this wouldn't be a big expense for the town.
Only one council member, Anne Dodge voted against the per diem increase Monday, saying that "100 dollars seems like too much money."
Town council members Vicki Blair and Doug Samples were absent from the meeting.
Town council still has to approve a second reading before the new travel reimbursement changes would go into effect.
Duckett says that second reading will be conducted at the next town council meeting October 25th.
