3.0 ERMUSR 03-10-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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G.4i6 – Public Purpose Expenditures 1.0 Policy Pursuant to the statutes and laws of the State of Minnesota which regulate the expenditure of public funds for public purposes, Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) believes it is necessary and appropriate to provide assistance and guidance to officials, employees, and representatives of ERMU to aid in the determination of when public funds may be spent for a public purpose. To provide that assistance and guidance, the ERMU Board of Commissioners has adopted this Public Purpose Expenditure Policy establishing operating policies and procedures for the appropriate expenditure of public funds. The Utility Commission authorizes the General Manager to establish administrative policies and procedures that are consistent with this Policy. Definition: A public purpose expenditure is one which relates to the purpose for which Elk River Municipal Utilities exists. 2.0 Public Purpose Guidelines A. Training and development programs for ERMU employees serve a public purpose when those training and development programs are directly related to the performance of the employees’ job-related duties and are directly related to the programs/services for which ERMU is responsible. B. Payment of employee work-related expenses, including travel, lodging and meal expenses, serves a public purpose when those expenses are necessarily incurred by ERMU employees in connection with their actual work assignments or official duties, and those expenses are directly related to the performance of the governmental functions for which Elk River has responsibility. C. Appropriate safety and health programs for ERMU employees serve a public purpose because they result in healthier and more productive employees and reduce certain costs to ERMU customers, including various costs associated with workers compensation and disability benefit claims, insurance premiums, and lost time from employee absences. 161