County hikes mileage rate for staff and councillors
By Richard Blanchard

Simcoe county councillors have voted to increase the mileage allowance paid to themselves and county staff by almost 20 per cent.

Councillors last week to increase the mileage allowance from 43 cents per kilometre to 50 cents per kilometre. The increase will be effective Jan. 1.

County staff reviewed the rates paid at municipalities, regions and other government agencies throughout the province.

The survey calculated that an average rate of around 44.4 cents per kilometre was paid by the various agencies.

But county councillors were swayed by the calculation of the rate paid by the Canada Revenue Agency, which calculated its rate of 50 cents per kilometre for the first 5,000 kilometres and then 44 cents on any mileage afterwards.

The agency calculated its rate based on a financial analysis on the actual costs of operating a vehicle.

Adjala-Tosorontio deputy mayor Doug Little said that the rate should be variable on the price of gasoline.

"I think that the rate is a bit on the high side. Adjala- Tosorontio has a policy which sees the rate go down if the price of gasoline goes down," he said.