Vermont travel reimbursement policy for judges brought to light
June 14, 2012
Burlington, VT: Vermont judges were reimbursed almost $80,000 by a little-known administrative policy for traveling between home and the court in 2011, an report by the Burlington Free Press stated on June 9th.[1]
The newspaper found that state judges and justices are allowed to received 55 cents per mile over 20 miles traveled to and from home, based upon a policy put in place two to three decades ago. That reimbursement added up to an average of $2,093.65 for each of the 38 individuals taking advantage of the policy. Superior Court Judges Robert P. Gerety, Jr. and Timothy B. Tomasi received the most, $6,893.16 and $6,848.01 respectively.
Some are questioning the policy now that it has come to light, pointing out the fact that judges are already some of the most well-paid state employees in both salary and other benefits. Others point out it might even be cheaper to provide the judges with extraordinarily long commutes with a state car. Court administrators, however, state that the reimbursements are reasonable because judges may have to travel long distances due to rotating courthouse schedules--an idea imposed to reduced potential judicial corruption. In addition, the reimbursement costs are incorporated within the total framework of the approved budget for the judicial system.
The total court expenditures in 2011 were approximately $37.6 million.[2]
Read the full report here.
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