Tech Forum

A member from our stake was called to be the director of a bishop's storehouse. It requires a great deal of travel, and the agent stake president for the storehouse(from a different stake) has been reimbursing him from their stake budget. Shouldn't this expense be charged to the Other: Priesthood Leader Telephone & Travel Reimbursement category?

Are there any other guidelines for use of this category?

Hi sgoodrich,

The policy noted on the reimbursement form states, in part:

3. Travel reimbursement is for stake presidents and bishops who must attend meetings and for stake clerks who must audit records and train ward clerks.

8. Auxiliary leader travel is discouraged but may be reimbursed from the stake's budget allowance.

Hope that helps.

Freedom55 wrote:The policy noted on the reimbursement form states, in part:

3. Travel reimbursement is for stake presidents and bishops who must attend meetings and for stake clerks who must audit records and train ward clerks.

8. Auxiliary leader travel is discouraged but may be reimbursed from the stake's budget allowance.

The current form is #31563 and is available on ldscatalog.com using the unit login (after logging in, just do a Quick Search for 31563). The policy statements on the current form are numbered differently from the above quote, but the policy is still essentially the same. So it's quite clear that reimbursements for the travel described in the first post would not fit within the policy for reimbursement from Other:Priesthood Leader Telephone & Travel Reimbursement.

sgoodrich wrote:A member from our stake was called to be the director of a bishop's storehouse. It requires a great deal of travel,

Just to clarify, does it require travel as part of the calling or is it just to get from his home to the storehouse?

I know very little about Bishop's Storehouse, so I'm having trouble getting an accurate picture of the situation.

sgoodrich wrote:A member from our stake was called to be the director of a bishop's storehouse. It requires a great deal of travel, and the agent stake president for the storehouse(from a different stake) has been reimbursing him from their stake budget. Shouldn't this expense be charged to the Other: Priesthood Leader Telephone & Travel Reimbursement category?

Are there any other guidelines for use of this category?

If the agent stake president wants to reimburse him from his stake budget, he is free to do so. If he would like to have have the church help with the reimbursement, he probably needs to speak with his area authority for permission to use the reimbursement code.

He might receive that permission if he asks, depending on the circumstances. Then again, he might not. Another option would be for the agent stake and the member's own stake to share the cost.

He is just getting reimbursement for travel from home to the storehouse. Currently we plan to split the cost between the two stakes. That seems to be the proper course of action.

sgoodrich wrote:He is just getting reimbursement for travel from home to the storehouse. Currently we plan to split the cost between the two stakes. That seems to be the proper course of action.

That sounds pretty proper. Someone traveling from here to work at the storehouse would go nearly 100 miles each way.

If reimbursement isn't in the cards, you may be able to deduct the mileage at 14¢/mile in Federal Income tax. (This only applies in the U.S.)

As always, consult a tax professional. I'm not a tax expert. This is only offered as a suggestion.

RussellHltn wrote:. . . you may be able to deduct the mileage at 14¢/mile in Federal Income tax. (This only applies in the U.S.)

And only if you itemize your deductions. [grin]

Freedom55 wrote:8. Auxiliary leader travel is discouraged ...

Reimbursement of the cost may be discouraged, but I've never heard of the travel itself being discouraged.:rolleyes: