THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408110185
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Councilman John D. Moss launched a campaign Tuesday to rescind the annual car allowances of the constitutional officers. Moss says the annual sums of money are unjustified and represent a political perk.
The allowances began July 1. They total between $3,600 and $4,200 annually per official. The council included the new allowances when it passed this spring's budget. According to Moss, the sheriff, treasurer and other constitutional officers did not ask for the allowances and there was a mystery as to why they were included in the budget.
``Why are we doing this?'' Moss asked repeatedly. ``We have a tradition in Virginia that public service should be a privilege, not that privilege should go to those in public service.''
Vice Mayor William D. Sessoms championed the inclusion of these car allowances in the budget last spring, Moss said.
``I'm sure it had nothing to do with their support for him in the last election,'' Moss said.
Sessoms remained silent during the discussion.
The citizens of Virginia Beach directly elect the five constitutional officers, which puts them in quasi-independent status from the City Council. The state and the city together pay the officers' salaries.
Councilwoman Barbara M. Henley questioned why the constitutional officers received car allowances when they could submit travel vouchers and be compensated for car travel on a per mile basis. She said more information was needed to decide effectively what should be done.
An official would have to drive 13,000 miles a month on official business to justify an annual car allowance of $4,200, Henley said, using the standard city reimbursement rate of 29 cents a mile.
Moss said the constitutional officers work out of offices located in the Municipal Center, and questioned whether they would have a need to travel a great deal. In past years, the officers had only turned in small claims for travel reimbursement, Moss said.
The council deferred action on the matter for two weeks. The city manager was instructed to prepare additional information for the council. Council members William Harrison and Louisa Strayhorn voted against the decision to bring up the matter again in two weeks.
Councilman John A. Baum raised the only defense of the car fees.
``As far as I know we're getting along all right with all of them,'' Baum said. To take away their car allowances ``would be sending a sour message.'' ILLUSTRATION: Chart
WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS MAKE
Car Total Salary
Constitutional officer allowance (with car)
Sheriff Frank Drew $4,200 $88,001<
Treasurer John Atkinson $3,600 $83,160<
Revenue Commissioner
Robert Vaughan $3,600 $83,160
Comm. Attorney< Robert Humphreys $3,600
$97,858
Circuit Court Clerk
Curtis Fruit $3,600 $86,134
Source: Councilman John D. Moss by CNB