Are supervisors’ tabs justified? [The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.]

Feb. 14--Plane trips, health insurance, office supplies and gasoline are some expenses that Spotsylvania County supervisors seek reimbursement for each year.

A review of 2009 expense reports and credit charges submitted by four of the seven supervisors showed they cost the county almost $40,000.

With the county's operating budget at $217 million, the reimbursements and credit charges don't have huge financial implications. Neither do supervisors' $24,000 annual salaries.

But that hasn't deterred some local elected officials from cutting their compensation.

Supervisors in Caroline and Stafford counties recently reduced their salaries, and Gov. Bob McDonnell cut his and other top staff members' pay.

With no new revenue expected and state cuts coming, local governments are quickly making even the smallest of cuts -- if not to make a difference, then to make a statement.

The process hasn't been as smooth for the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors.

When Supervisor Hap Connors moved last month to cut supervisor salaries by 5 percent, a testy discussion ensued.

Some supervisors not only opposed cutting their salaries, but also objected to any changes in how the county covers their expenses.

DO TRIPS PAY OFF?

Supervisor Benjamin Pitts had the most reimbursements and charges in 2009, chiefly because he is the board's representative to the National Association of Counties and the Virginia Association of Counties. The total of his expense reports and credit charges came to $5,293.30.

Pitts said he has no doubt that the NACO and VACO events he attended last year are paying dividends.

He used county credit cards for plane trips and hotel rooms for NACO events in Florida and Tennessee. He also was reimbursed for VACO events.

"Both organizations play a vital role in local government," Pitts said. "That is their sole purpose."

Not all supervisors believe those expenses can be justified in this economy. Supervisor Jerry Logan said NACO and VACO trips are costs that can be eliminated.

"To have those type of expenses that are discretionary, we really need to take a hard look at it," he said. "It all adds up. I think Mr. Pitts' travel expenses need to be scrutinized through that prism."

Pitts said he worked with NACO officials to save $55 million in public-safety grants. Through the association, the Spotsylvania sheriff participates in a national program to help prevent assault and sexual abuse of juveniles.

The county also offers NACO's prescription drug program so residents pay less for medicine, Pitts said. During the third quarter of last year, 3,480 Spotsylvania residents benefited. They had 9,599 prescriptions filled and had $138,213.91 in savings, according to the NACO Web site. The county offered this benefit to residents before Pitts' membership in the organization.

"To me, this program and the savings to county residents alone justifies Spotsylvania's involvement in the National Association of Counties," Pitts said.

Last June 6, Pitts requested reimbursement for $1,284.87 for a January NACO Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee retreat in Florida.

The flight cost $228.99, and there was a $195 registration fee. Lodging at Embassy Suites was $154.29 a night for four nights. A night at a Clarion hotel in Richmond was $90.39. The rest of the costs were for meals and mileage to and from the airport.

Pitts also requested reimbursement for another NACO meeting, in Tennessee.

Pitts' total request for the five-night event was $1,962.50, mostly for the $229.54-a-night stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

Pitts stayed at hotels near the airports the day before the trips to Florida and Tennessee, and expensed those stays. The flight to Tennessee left at 9:07 a.m. and the flight to Florida left at 7 a.m.

"The reason I did that was because my flights left early in the mornings," he said.

Pitts and his wife also attended a VACO conference and stayed at The Homestead resort in Hot Springs, charging $1,203.98, minus $411.92 in expenses that his wife incurred.

Pitts said VACO is a legislative tracking organization that also helps counties lobby the state government to stop passing unfunded mandates for local governments.

"VACO is a very worthwhile asset to counties on the lobbying side," Pitts said.

PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE

Health insurance for Supervisors T.C. Waddy, Emmitt Marshall and Logan cost the county $25,785 in 2009, according to county staff. Each of those supervisors paid $1,886 out of pocket for the coverage.

Marshall, 81, is retired from the timber business and is the longest-serving supervisor on the county board.

Waddy, 74, said he continued using county health insurance when he retired after 24 years with the Sheriff's Office, 16 of them as sheriff.

Logan, who also is retired, said he tried to make Medicare his primary insurer. He said that because he is not a county retiree, Medicare says the county insurance plan automatically becomes his primary insurer.

"I have Medicare," Logan said. "My ongoing discussion with the county is why not make Medicare the primary and Anthem the secondary? I really have not gotten an answer from our insurance company or county staff."

Logan, 67, said his electrical contracting company cut employee medical benefits months ago because of the economy. He said it would cost him and his wife at least $12,000 annually to get individual policies.

Supervisors Gary Jackson, Gary Skinner, Connors and Pitts do not use the county health insurance program.

Of that group, only Pitts is retired. But each gets $1,200 annually from the county, as do all full-time county employees who do not take the health insurance benefits.

Pitts brought up the three supervisors' participation in the county insurance program at a recent board meeting to make the point that it costs taxpayers thousands of dollars annually.

Pitts said at the meeting that he does not participate in the county's health insurance program.

He said later that he gets health coverage from Fredericksburg, where he retired from the police department. He said his wife, Janice, has a separate policy that costs $8,200 a year.

WADDY ON THE ROAD

In 2009, Supervisor T.C. Waddy filed expense reports for 3,467 miles traveling to county meetings, visiting constituents and attending community events. That's more miles than if he drove to California in his 1997 Chevrolet pickup.

Waddy's total expenses were $1,906.85 -- all of it for mileage. No other supervisor came close to the amount of mileage Waddy racked up in his district.

All of Supervisor Marshall's $478.78 in expenses were for mileage, as well.

Waddy, who lives in the Lake Anna area, drives 54 miles round trip to attend each board meeting. He is known for being attentive to constituents' concerns, and his expense reports show numerous trips around the Livingston District, which he represents.

"People call about roads and different things, so you have to go," Waddy said. "You can't tell them you won't go."

Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438

Email: [email protected]

It is not uncommon in the Fredericksburg area for local governments to offer health insurance to members of the county board of supervisors or municipal council:

Stafford County offers health insurance benefits to supervisors, as it does to all full-time employees. Three of the seven supervisors -- Mark Dudenhefer, Paul Milde and Cord Sterling -- are enrolled in the county's health care plan. The other four supervisors receive an opt-out credit of $100 per month, which is offered to all county employees who do not enroll in the county's plan.

Fredericksburg offers health insurance benefits to City Council members.

Culpeper County Board of Supervisors members pay their share of the plan just like other employees.

Culpeper Town Council members have the option to be on the town's health insurance plan, but they would have to pay full price.

Orange County offers health insurance to supervisors. Shannon Abbs and Zack Burkett take it. They pay the same as county employees.

The town of Orange offers health insurance to Town Council members. Henry Lee Carter and Nancy Alexander take it. They pay the same as town employees.

Colonial Beach does not provide health insurance to Town Council members.

All five Westmoreland County supervisors are insured under the county's health plan. The county's cost for that coverage this year is $34,956, said County Administrator Norm Risavi. -- Compiled by staff reporters Jonas Beals, Emily Battle, Donnie Johnston, Robin Knepper and Frank Delano

Spotsylvania supervisors receive a $24,000 annual salary and can choose to be reimbursed for expenses they incur on county business. Here is the 2009 breakdown:

Supervisor Benjamin Pitts charged to county credit or was reimbursed $5,293.30. He also receives $1,200 for not using the county health insurance plan.

Supervisor T.C. Waddy was reimbursed $1,906.85 for mileage. He also gets county medical insurance worth $8,595. Waddy would be eligible for this insurance even if he weren't on the board, because he served in the county Sheriff's Office.

Supervisor Emmitt Marshall was reimbursed $478.78 for mileage. He also gets county medical insurance worth $8,595.

Supervisor Gary Jackson was reimbursed $471.78 for mileage, fax machine use and office supplies. He also gets $1,200 for not using county health insurance.

Supervisor Jerry Logan said he will continue to not file expense reports for mileage as long as he can afford it. He also declined a laptop, cell phone and fax the county offers to supervisors. He gets county health insurance worth $8,595.

Supervisor Hap Connors said he does not plan to file expense reports in this economy. He filed only one -- on Jan. 9, 2009 -- for a $55 check to the Quantico Black History Month Association. He gets $1,200 for not using county health insurance.

Supervisor Gary Skinner said he does not plan to file expense reports with the county, even if the economy improves. "I think the payment I get for doing the job is adequate enough to cover it," he said. He gets $1,200 for not using county health insurance.

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