Monroe city council may tighten policy that allows use of taxpayer money for business travel

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By Liz Foster

MONROE, N.C. — Monroe city council members may soon tighten the policy that allows them to use taxpayer money to travel for city business.

[Records: EPA chief jets away for weekends on taxpayer's dime]

City staff members recommended the policy change after  allegedly discovering:

  • The city paid for a travel companion on trips without an official purpose.
  • The city paid for hotel stays for trips within a reasonable driving distance of Monroe.
  • Employees made purchases on a city credit card for miscellaneous personal items and restaurant charges.

City staff proposed several recommendations to change the travel policy for elected officials, including for employees to clearly express that travel at the city’s expense is for a designated public purpose and discourage lodging when the meeting is within a reasonable commuting distance.

Channel 9 is waiting to get information from a records request to find out if expenses by elected officials during trips may be considered excessive.

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"I want my tax dollars to be spent appropriately,” said taxpayer Kim Pyle.

This staff report doesn't share specifically the expenses that prompted the review, only quoting “a number of travel provisions and practices are of concern.”

Channel 9's Liz Foster contacted all six city council members and the mayor for a comment before the city council meeting Tuesday evening.

Only Councilman Franco McGee replied via email, saying in part: “I feel it is our responsibility as council to assure that funds are available to allow council members the opportunity to seek continuing education and trainings to equip us with the latest information and technology to better serve our community.”

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