EVERETT — A analyst’s insistence that he fraudulently inflated the reimbursement amounts that Snohomish County’s elected officials can claim for using personal vehicles hasn’t gained much traction.
The Snohomish County Council is considering a monthly car allowance of $529.28 for 2016. That’s only about 7 percent lower the $569.32 rate for 2015. The county’s Fleet Management Division, which is under the County Executive’s Office, recommended the new rates to the council.
A hearing about the new rate, with a possible vote, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 9.
“I’ve said multiple times that this isn’t right, that this doesn’t make any sense,” said James Lee, a county analyst who filed a whistle-blower complaint about the rates.
Lee contends the 2015 rates are about $250 per month higher than they should be. He said he pushed up compensation by using tricks such as basing replacement, maintenance, insurance and fuel costs on sport utility vehicles, instead of less expensive sedans.
A memo forwarded to the council with next year’s proposed rates includes an explanation to justify basing the rates on a class of SUVs that includes the Ford Escape.
The letter, from fleet services director Roy Scalf, reasons that smaller SUVs are the county government’s most common fleet vehicle, with 62 in use, compared to 28 mid-size sedans. Scalf also cites news reports about the rising popularity of SUVs and crossover vehicles.
Lee filed his whistle-blower complaint in March, detailing alleged financial sleights of hand. He said he was pressured by supervisors to produce higher car-allowance figures when he submitted lower calculations in 2013. He said he waited more than a year to raise his concerns because, “I was still in good team player mode.”
The county paid a workplace investigator $10,000 to examine Lee’s claims. The report he got back in September concluded there was “no improper government action” in setting the car allowances because there is more than one legitimate way to interpret code.
Lee said last week that he continues to work in the fleet management division.
“I have given them so many opportunities to stop this,” he said.
Eight of the county’s 11 eligible elected officials claimed the car allowance in 2015.
Other jurisdictions use different formulas for reimbursing elected officials. Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson receives $150 every other week. Pierce County’s seven County Council members can claim $685.65 per month.
King County compensates its nine County Council members on a per-mile basis, using federal rates. That’s not allowed under Snohomish County code, which specifies compensation based on an average pool vehicle. The 2015 Internal Revenue Service mileage rate is 57.5 cents.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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