Despite pleas from a handful of residents urging them to B次元官网网址渢ighten their beltsB次元官网网址�, the City of Langford has agreed to make changes to its travel expenditure policy, including a $20 boost to their daily allowance for meals.

B次元官网网址淲hile this council's appetite for travel, conferences and buying recreation centres may be bottomless, the taxpayers' pockets are not,B次元官网网址� said Lisa Foxhall at a meeting on Nov. 4.

B次元官网网址淐olwood expenses are $22,000, [LangfordB次元官网网址檚] are $68,000,B次元官网网址� said Wendy Hobbs, referring to information available in both councilB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楽tatement of Financial InformationB次元官网网址� for 2023.

B次元官网网址淪o if anything, you need to cut expenses, not increase it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou guys should be tightening your belts and trying to save us some money, not spending it,B次元官网网址� added another resident.

While increasing the B次元官网网址榩er diemB次元官网网址� for meals and incidental costs from $60 to $80, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 updated travel expenditure policy does include changes to encourage money-saving. These include carpooling and sharing taxis when travelling together, and restrictions on claiming expenses if meals are provided as part of the event.

It was also noted the policy has not been updated since 2006, with one resident pointing out if the allowance had been raised in line with inflation over the years, it would be closer to $90.

B次元官网网址淭he proposed increase to $80 is completely reasonable,B次元官网网址� said Frazer Johnson, speaking in support of the changes at the meeting.

B次元官网网址淚n real terms this is less than what the policy was when it was first enacted 18 years ago,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Keith Yacucha later in the meeting. B次元官网网址淪o in that sense, there [are] real cost savings even built into this.B次元官网网址�

The city is also exploring the possibility of adding B次元官网网址榙ependent careB次元官网网址� as a qualifying cost for reimbursement to the policy.

B次元官网网址淚 recognize that when you go away to work and you leave your family behind there are significant consequences that come alongside that,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Colby Harder, adding she felt the city would be on the B次元官网网址渓eading edgeB次元官网网址� by exploring such a policy.

But the possible inclusion of the new expense had some locals confused, pointing to a lack of information about what B次元官网网址榙ependent careB次元官网网址� means.

B次元官网网址淚 don't know any company, business or council that pays their staff for dependent care,B次元官网网址� said Hobbs, who urged the council to show due diligence and gather more information before making a decision.

And some councillors agreed, explaining the information was too vague.

B次元官网网址淚'm not clear on what kind of types [of dependent care] we are talking about,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Mary Wagner. B次元官网网址淏abysitting? Are we talking about overnight care?B次元官网网址�

Councillors unanimously agreed at the meeting to instruct staff to prepare a report about B次元官网网址榙ependent careB次元官网网址�, which will be considered at a later date.