The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

Taxes for meals

07/12/09

12:05:46 am, by bill

, 316 words,

Categories: Observer Opinions, Commissioners Salaries, Open Government, Taxes, 2009 Budget

Taxes for meals

Collin County's fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. Fiscal 2009 is now 75% done and with budget planning already begun for FY 2010, it seems like a good time to search the county's check register to see how our commissioners are spending our tax dollars on themselves.

Commissioners make a great salary. They get to set their own pay rate and benefits - and it shows. In 2009 each commissioner made $111,146.00 in base salary. Keith Self, the County Judge was paid $136,073.00. In addition, the commissioners and county judge are entitled to a fine health insurance plan, retirement benefits, life insurance, and long and short term disability policies.

They are also entitled to submit expenses for reimbursement. So far in FY 2009, the Commissioners have been reimbursed for over $2,600 in 'business meal' expenses alone.

There is a large disparity among the commissioners in the use of tax dollars for their meals - Pct. 2 Commissioner Jerry Hoagland seems to be the biggest eater on the court. His $1,785 in meals takes the lions share of all reimbursed dinners - accounting for almost 70% of the entire year's charges by commissioners. Pct. 4 Commissioner Kathy Ward spent the least - she spent zero tax dollars for her food.

FY2009 Reimbursements for Business Meals

	Matt Shaheen	Jerry Hoagland	Joe Jaynes	Kathy Ward	Keith Self	Total
Sept 09
Aug 09
Jul 09
Jun 09	$ 0	$ 233.54	$ 111.40	$ 0	$ 0	$ 344.94
May 09	$ 309.74	$ 392.16	$ 156.56	$ 0	$ 0	$ 858.46
Apr 09	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Mar 09	$ 0	$ 126.12	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 126.12
Feb 09	$ 0	$ 66.90	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 66.90
Jan 09	$ 0	$ 90.90	$ 0	$ 0	$ 252.96	$ 343.86
Dec 08	$ 0	$ 281.68	$ 20.38	$ 0	$ 0	$ 302.06
Nov 08	$ 0	$ 74.92	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 74.92
Oct 08	$ 0	$ 518.77	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 518.77
Total	$ 309.74	$ 1,784.99	$ 288.34	$ 0	$ 252.96	$ 2,636.03

The County judge and commissioners have submitted a total of over $13,500 in reimbursable expenses. These expenses are for travel, training, conferences and meals. County Judge Keith Self was the biggest spender overall, racking up reimbursed charges of over $4,800. The next largest spender was Pct. 3 Commissioner Joe Jaynes, who spent almost $4,400. Again, the smallest spender was Commissioner Kathy Ward, who turned in only $375. in expenses.

Total FY2009 Expense Reimbursements

	Matt Shaheen	Jerry Hoagland	Joe Jaynes	Kathy Ward	Keith Self	Total
Sept 09
Aug 09
Jul 09
Jun 09	$ 0	$ 386.69	$ 111.40	$ 119.90	$ 26.71	$ 954.44
May 09	$ 309.74	$ 545.27	$ 178.56	$ 119.90	$ 655.26	$ 1,498.99
Apr 09	$ 245.36	$ 0	$ 309.70	$ 0	$ 756.96	$ 1,312.02
Mar 09	$ 259.73	$ 126.12	$ 744.18	$ 136.15	$ 779.32	$ 2,036.50
Feb 09	$ 238.50	$ 66.90	$ 464.56	$ 0	$ 1,356.71	$ 2,126.67
Jan 09	$ 0	$ 90.90	$ 2,125.09	$ 0	$ 512.96	$ 2,728.95
Dec 08	$ 0	$ 658.84	$ 106.89	$ 0	$ 0	$ 765.73
Nov 08	$ 0	$ 525.04	$ 337.99	$ 0	$ 75.95	$ 938.98
Oct 08	$ 0	$ 518.77	$ 0	$ 0	$ 675.36	$ 1,194.13
Total	$ 1,044.33	$ 2,918.53	$ 4,378.37	$ 375.95	$ 4,839.23	$ 13,556.31

Bill

Permalink 10 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Another Bill [Visitor]

It looks like Kathy and Keith are trying to play it cool before next year's elections. May be too little too late...

Not so much for Hoagland.

Permalink 07/12/09 @ 15:48

Comment from: Expo [Visitor]

I believe travel is necessary for visits to Austin to meet with legislators in discussing bills that would effect Collin County. The numbers don't look out of line. It's good that you reported on it, though.

Bill, please look at school districts, like Lovejoy ISD, and their administrative staff travel. $52,000 in one month for administrators for a school district with only 3,000 kids is way, way out of line.

Permalink 07/13/09 @ 09:43

Comment from: MustBeElectionTime for Ward [Visitor]

Bill- It sounds like you are becoming a converted Kathy Ward fan and I think I know why.

Here me out on this.
Ok, democrats are huge supporters of citizens being dependent on the federal government and Kathy Ward's home was foreclosed on in 2008 which probably scored a lot of points with you guys. Then, she voted liberally on the indigent health care vote which I know scored more and more points with the Collin County Democrats. To me, the foreclosure, health care, lack of reimbursement needs (which is odd coming from you because you would think with how often you harp on their salaries, she doesnt need reimbursements) and her always "playing everyone" shes in front of political style, you guys may want to try and recruit her to run as a Dem. Thoughts?

Permalink 07/13/09 @ 20:44

Comment from: bill [Member]

Mustbe...

I reported the numbers from the County's checkbook. They are what they are.

Are big lunches conservative, now?

I think you're dreamin' crazy stuff, and you sound like one mean-spirited sucker who's trying desperately to score points.

Good Luck

Bill

Permalink 07/13/09 @ 22:12

Comment from: MustBeElectionTime for Ward [Visitor]

Bill-

Don't get sensitive on me now. "Mean-spirited sucker" sounds a little emotional eh? And what was mean-spirited about what I said? I read back through my post and found nothing that would be deemed mean-spirited. Dems recruiting Kathy was meant to be a bit humorous, but far from mean-spirited. Democrats recruiting a Republican would only be a serious remark if I had been talking about Brian McCall or something like that. Anyways, so back to this "mean-spirited" claim of yours. Indigent health care comment? I simply don't agree with the way that Kathy and Joe voted, that would be considered a difference in opinion. Are you saying that anyone who disagrees with you is "mean-spirited" now? That seems a little touchy. So, the last thing I touched on was her foreclosure. Am I not allowed to mention this for some unknown reason? I mean, I'm sure her neighbors were thrilled to see their home values drop. And Bill, we both know the Democrats make their living on making people dependent on government, that's not "mean-spirited", that's just a fact 59 years of life will teach you.

Permalink 07/14/09 @ 10:21

Comment from: Steve [Visitor]

Bill,

I've been around this county for 37 yrs. It appears right before election time, she is postering to Democrats. She looks to be a weak commissioner but a great politician. Bill please for God's sake do what is right and run against Kathy. We don't want sub-par, we need excellent!

Permalink 07/14/09 @ 11:29

Comment from: Brian Flanagaun [Visitor]

comment deleted by Bill.

Permalink 07/14/09 @ 11:33

Comment from: bill [Member]

Steve,

Thank you for your compliment, but I don't live in her precinct. And I'm not running for any public office in 2010.

Bill

Permalink 07/14/09 @ 11:53

Comment from: Jane Says [Visitor]

· http://www.aspectcarrental.com/car_rental_italy.html

That was kinda funny to see their meals and food spending broken down like that. It would be fun to have size comparison charts along side it just for giggles sake. A general waist and hieght or some actualy poundage per person. Just my two cents from Car Rental Italy. American politics fascinate me.

Permalink 07/14/09 @ 22:41

Comment from: o.m. [Visitor]

About the meals being paid by our taxs, I was under the inpression it was against county policy to reimburse for meals consumed inside the county. I wonder if all these meals were outside the county.

Permalink 07/20/09 @ 09:52