Sen. Gilbert introduces bill curbing unnecessary travel
Monday, June 22, 2009
LANSING--State Sen. Jud Gilbert has introduced a measure that will prevent local government officials from taking taxpayer-funded trips out of state unless absolutely necessary.
“At a time when the state is being forced to make painful budgetary cuts, we must ensure that every dollar appropriated is being used only for essential purposes,” said Gilbert, R-Algonac. “In these tough economic times, this only makes sense.”
Senate Bill 657 would apply existing state travel restrictions to local governmental entities. Some of these restrictions include:
- The travel is necessary to comply with federal requirements;
- It is necessary to secure specialized training for staff that is essential to performing the duties of the position and is not available within this state; and
- It is financed entirely by federal funds or by private funds granted expressly for the purpose of the travel.
In addition to the travel restrictions, the bill would require reports on publicly funded travel to be posted on the Web sites of local governments, pension systems, and retirement systems. Among other things, the travel reports would include the name of each person whose travel costs were paid by the local agency; a brief statement of the reason for the travel; itemization of the transportation and related costs; and the total expenses for all out-of-state travel funded during the immediately preceding fiscal year.
Recent media reports state that trustees of Detroit’s public pension fund have approved travel to more than 100 conferences worldwide, at the expense of the pension fund. One trustee spent $105,000.
“Public pension fund board members and local government employees should not be taking unnecessary, lavish trips at taxpayer expense,” said Gilbert. “This proposal would prevent that from happening again.”
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