Good Morning- Our Butler County Board of County Commissioners has requested an analysis and recommendation regarding our personal cell phone use policy and reimbursement rates, for both bargaining and non-bargaining employees. Our current policy for non-bargaining employees provides that eligibility for a cell phone allowance is made by the Department Director or his/her designee and requires a determination whether the employee’s duties include the need for and frequent use of a cell phone for business purposes. Reimbursement amounts are set at $15.00 per pay for employees who average more than 350 minutes per month or use a BlackBerry device. Users who average more than 100 minutes per month, but less than 350 minutes are reimbursed $7.50 per pay. The amounts are computed on an annual basis and paid in 24 equal installments. Thus, higher usage employees receive 24 payments in the amount of $16.25 (annual $390) and the lower usage employees receive 24 payments in the amount of $8.13 (annual $195). Employees receiving the allowance must submit copies of their monthly cell phone statements to the Director or his/her designee for review. Quarterly audits of cell phone allowances are supposed to be conducted to make sure the allowances are appropriate, administered as intended and to certify that the employee has purchased the equipment/services for which the benefit was intended. There are some other somewhat cumbersome provisions regarding required documentation and what happens if there are changes to plans. Our bargaining units generally follow the Commissioners' policy, with some exceptions. We do not yet have anything in the policy regarding work-related texting and the implications under the public records laws. We would like to know how other Counties are addressing the personnel cell phone use for business purpose issues. If you could share your Counties' respective policy language, it would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance. Laurie
