Clallam County employees who go on junkets at the expense of taxpayers could face disciplinary action if they claim excessive costs, the latest draft of a proposed new travel policy says.
The county auditor is reviewing a 1992 policy to clarify outdated and difficult-to-interpret rules governing junket benefits paid to some of its 420 workers.
Overall, county department spending on out-of-state junket expenses has fluctuated since 1998 when the total was $54,044.28. Expenses increased to $77,192.83 in 1999 before dropping to $66,002.50 in 2000.
The new policy could help keep travel expenses in line.
“It was not a thorough, workable policy,”‘ Auditor Cathy McKeown said. “There was so much debate between department heads over what was acceptable and what was not.”
The final draft of the proposed policy could be completed later this month.
For the complete story see Wednesday’s Peninsula Daily News, on sale in Clallam County.
