The University recently changed its travel policies to encourage more rental car usage by employees. The University spent more than $3.5 million on travel in fiscal year 2008-09, a number it hopes to reduce by imposing new regulations on personal vehicle travel effective this year. The new rules mandated by the state are designed to take advantage of a motorpool contract the state has with Enterprise Rent-A-Car for business travel, said Donna Torres, associate vice chancellor for Accounting and Financial Services. The new rules limit University-reimbursed travel to 99 miles. All mileage more than 99 miles won’t be reimbursed by the University. The mileage reimbursement rate was also reduced from 52 cents per mile to 48 cents per mile. This change will take advantage of a $32 per day rate with insurance offered by Enterprise. The University also pays the cost for gas on top of the rental cost. A one-day trip to New Orleans would cost the University $32 under the new regulations plus the cost of gas – estimated at $14 for a round trip. Under the old rules, an employee driving his or her personal vehicle would be reimbursed $72.80 – estimating 140 miles for a round trip to New Orleans. Jennifer Driggers, Office of Accounts Payable accountant, said employees renting a car for their travels will save the University money in most cases. But some exceptions to the rules could be approved through Accounting and Financial Services, Driggers said. Torres said the new plan received positive feedback thus far from employees who accumulated hundreds of miles on their personal vehicles driving for University business but now use the rental program.
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– – – – Contact Xerxes A.’ Wilson’ at [email protected]