Commission hears proposal to simplify county cellphone allowance to $40 a month

Scott Park, the county controller, told commissioners the administration is proposing to replace two separate cellphone tiers with a single flat rate of $40 per month. Park said the change would simplify administration and that existing allowances would be rolled into base pay for the 2027 budget cycle. "One of the proposals that was suggested on this was to change it to be a single flat rate of $40 per month," Park said.

Park explained the intent is to cover the incremental business use of personal phones rather than to pay the full cost of voice and data for employees. He estimated only a small handful of employees (fewer than 10) would still qualify for IRS‑defined reimbursable phones and said county‑issued mobile phones for on‑call emergency duties would remain available.