The City of Lloydminster has updated a pair of expense policies, which outline business and travel-related expenses.
The Business Expense Policy and Travel Expense Policy were reviewed by council following further updates after the Oct. 20 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting.
Read more: Stubbs pushes for stronger energy and resource development
In the travel policy, it was clarified that receipts are required to claim a reimbursement for the full daily meal per diem. The deadline was also changed for submission and approval of reimbursement claims from one year to six months.
With the submission of a detailed receipt, travel meals could see reimbursements of $20 for breakfast, $25 for lunch and $45 for supper, for a daily maximum of $90.
If a receipt is not submitted, the member of council or administration is entitled to receive a flat rate of $23 per meal.
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson was happy to see the options of either a flat rate or the possibility to submit receipts.
“I like the flex options of the flat rate and then the ability to submit receipts,” she said. “I think it puts the responsibility back on the individual.”
The changes were intended to keep things simple.
“With the flexibility, we’re really looking to keep things simple. It was not intended to make it more complicated,” said Adele Wakaruk, executive manager, corporate services. “Trying to maintain fiscal responsibility, understand this is public funds we are expending and we wanted to have some restraint in place to exhibit that.”
The amount allocated per meal was a topic of discussion around the council table. Deputy Mayor Michael Diachuk, spoke to the importance of spending responsibly.
“If I was going out for supper on a regular night, would I be going out to those places for that amount of money,” he said. “When we go out there to do these things, it’s not to say, ‘Oh I’m going to have a top-end meal.’ If it were my own dime, I wouldn’t spend it. I think if we’re looking at money we’re spending, we should be spending as if it was our own.”
He says when travelling, council has a job to market Lloydminster.
“You go there because you need to be going out and meeting people and selling the city,” said Diachuk.
Coun. Justin Vance says he’s happy with the amounts.
“When we’re dealing with public funds, we have to be the most professional and prudent with that money and spend it like it’s our own,” he said. “I’ve never felt like I’ve been underfunded or underappreciated when it comes to reimbursements or per diems.
“I think we’re in good shape.”
Council approved the two expense policies at the Oct. 27 council meeting, which will come into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Read more: Medavie navigates border issues
