Kingsley Logs Most Travel Time

BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners often must travel to various business functions as part of their job.

But who travels the most?

According to travel vouchers Hernando Today obtained from the finance department covering fiscal years 2006, 2007 and 2008 (through May 2), Commissioner Chris Kingsley has the honor of being reimbursed more than his colleagues.

Hernando County has paid out $3,512.11 to Kingsley for travel during that stretch. That could change because fiscal year 2008 ends Sept. 30. Coming in second in the travel reimbursement ranking is Commissioner Jeff Stabins, who received $1088.88.

Commissioner Rose Rocco has received $790.54 in reimbursements. She was elected at the end of 2006 and had no travel vouchers in the 2005-06 fiscal years. Her reimbursements started in 2007 until the present.

Commissioner Diane Rowden had no travel vouchers either in 2005-06. In fact, Rowden has received $423.28 in travel reimbursements, all from 2007.

Commissioner David Russell has been reimbursed the least of all five commissioners: $403.45. Like Rocco, Russell was elected late in 2006.

Rowden said she tries to be conservative when it comes to travel. Rather than travel long distances, there are times when she gets information off the Internet or by calling on the telephone, she said.

Also, there are certain events where one commissioner will go and report back to the rest of the board.

"You don't need five commissioners going to one event," she said.

Rowden said she also frequently pays her travel expenses out of her own pocket to save taxpayers money.

Commissioners, who are reimbursed 44.5-cents per mile, travel to various seminars throughout the state to bone up on the latest work-related issues. For example, Stabins recently traveled to Tallahassee to attend "Hernando County Legislative Day."

Russell said he tries to keep travel costs to a minimum. He said he generally submits vouchers only if he has to drive over 50 miles.

Most of his travels are transportation-related because he serves on transportation boards, he said.