SANDPOINT — In a two-hour meeting, the Board of County Commissioners workshopped the county’s travel policy, notably discussing and agreeing on multiple edits for travel authorization and reimbursement.  

Commissioners took the morning to go through suggested updates on the county’s travel policy and reimbursement procedure. Officials heard input from participating county departments as Bonner County comptroller Jessica Stephany went through suggested edits. 

The travel policy was created in 1999, with the last update completed in 2017. Commissioners, along with auditing and other participating county departments, started the recent revision process in early 2025, with the Feb. 2 workshop stemming from suggestions made at that time.   

Revisions to the code are necessary for providing standardized travel practices county-wide, eliminating gaps of coverage and/or liability relating to travel and reimbursement.  

Among the first items of discussion was the need for the travel policy to be county-wide so that internal travel policies aren’t needed throughout each county department. Edits are expected to be made so that the county’s travel policy will encompass the entire county, limiting overall inconsistency and legal risk.  

Travel and hotel reimbursement were also a major topic of discussion, with Stephany suggesting the county follow rates set by the U.S. General Services Administration, which sets per diem rates for federal agencies to utilize for reimbursing their employees for lodging and meals.  

Officials agreed that GSA rates would be the overall standard, but that an exception would be made where GSA rates are impractical due to room availability, ADA accommodations, and/or transportation and time.  

Commissioners also noted that ADA and disability-related needs may increase travel expenses, recognizing that code language should reflect employees submitting medical documentation through the Human Resources department, so as not to disclose disabilities on public records.  

Code amendments were also approved regarding the approval of travel reimbursement before the designated travel time. Stephany said that prior approval allows the auditing department to tie the reimbursement back to the approved trip.  

Stephany noted that approval of emergency travel, such as court-ordered transport, can be received via email approval from the applicable department head or elected official to the auditing department.   

Department heads and elected officials are expected to meet again regarding additional projected changes, including workday and overtime while traveling, per diem rates for meals, personal versus business use of county vehicles, rentals and a cost appendix.