An increase to the employee mileage reimbursement rate was approved by the Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Last week Washington County Public Health Interim Administrator Chris Estle proposed changing the county’s rate from reflecting the state rate of $0.39 per mile to the federal rate of $.56 per mile. Estle remarked that several of their home care staff drive their own vehicles to provide patient care, and recent gas price increases can create a hardship for those employees. Estle says the department currently has the funds to cover the added cost for the rest of the fiscal year, but it will have to be taken into account for next year’s budget planning.

Public Health Fiscal Administrator Peggy Wood says the staff typically drives 76-80,000 miles a year, with a 17-cent increase amounting to about $14,000 annually. Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr., who serves on the county board of health, acknowledged that the board of health approved that they recommend the supervisors approve the reimbursement change to apply for all county employees. The board tabled the item to this week’s meeting, and the policy language will state that the county reflects the federal rate effective January 1st.