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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today agreed to give themselves a bit more money for annual work-related travel expenses, the first time that allowance has been increased since 2016.

In a 4-1 vote, with Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone dissenting, the board approved a 7.5% increase to each supervisor’s annual travel-expense reimbursement amounts — boosting the per-supervisor total from $10,300 to $11,072.50 — plus an annual $5,000 increase for the supervisors representing the First, Second and Fifth Districts. Those three districts are much larger than District 3 (where the population is concentrated in Arcata) and District 4 (Eureka). 

The approved increases will take effect next fiscal year.

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell asked for this matter to be brought forward for discussion. At today’s meeting she said her travel expenses tend to go over-budget each year, despite being “very conservative” with her plans, and this year is no exception. 

“I am very active in my district, and it’s a very large district as well,” Bushnell said. She noted that she’s already exceeded her allotted mileage reimbursement for the current fiscal year, which doesn’t end until June 30, and has exceeded that mark every year. The situation has only been made worse by the recent increase in fuel costs, she added.

The last time the county increased supervisors’ travel reimbursement amounts, in 2016, the standard California government rate for mileage expenses was 57 cents per mile, with $89 allotted for a night’s lodging and $51 for meals per day. Those rates have since increased to 72.5 cents per mile, $150 for lodging and $86 for meals, though not for local supervisors. So Humboldt County was overdue for an adjustment, according to Clerk of the Board Tracy D’Amico.

D’Amico said she consulted with her cohorts in other small, rural California counties to come up with a list of options for the board to consider. (See yesterday’s board meeting preview for the full rundown of those options.)

Humboldt County supervisorial district map.

Board Chair Mike Wilson, who represents District 3, acknowledged the extra costs inherent in representing a larger district and proposed the $5,000 increase for districts One, Two and Five. He also suggested an across-the-board increase of at least 5%, plus an annual increase tied to the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI),  to account for inflation.

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo observed that this type of budget increase tends to get “a lot of blowback” from the public, but the work trips in question allow supervisors to attend work trainings and meet with colleagues around the state to discuss policy matters.

“I just have really valued the opportunities to go and meet with folks outside of our community and learn how they’re doing things,” Arroyo said. “I appreciate that the opportunity exists, and I just want to speak to its value as a way of bringing back information to this community to see how we can improve.”

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone said he forgoes the annual California State Association of Counties (CSAC) conference, for which supervisors are given an additional $3,000 travel budget, so that he can instead use that money for his in-district travel expenses. And, noting the county’s current budget woes, he said, “I’m willing to live within the amount that I’m currently allocated.”

He said an additional $15,000 — $5,000 apiece for three supervisors — “doesn’t seem like a lot of money, but every little chunk adds up. So that’s my two cents.”

But the rest of the board was in favor of increases the travel budget. Wilson made a motion to that effect. In an effort to simplify the math, First District Supervisor Rex Bohn suggested replacing the equation “5% plus CPI” with a flat 7.5% increase for the upcoming fiscal year. 

The rest of the board agreed with that proposal — Madrone excepted — and the motion passed 4-1.