Germantown Board Members Take Advantage of Tax Benefit

Nice way to game the system. 

Germantown - Elected officials here are taking advantage of an IRS rule that, in effect, allows them to be reimbursed for many of the miles they drive from their day jobs to Village Hall.

Village President Tom Kempinski, for example, logs 30-plus miles for trips from his job in Oak Creek to Village Hall whenever he stops there before he drives the three additional miles to his home.

It’s not what some folks had in mind when Village Board members created monthly expense stipends for themselves a year ago.

“I guess it could be legal,” said Larry Prodoehl, president of the Germantown Citizens Action Coalition, “but is it the real intent?”

The work-to-Village Hall miles don’t cost Germantown taxpayers any more money, because Village Board members get their stipends whether they show proof of expenses or not. Also, the stipends are a flat amount, no matter how much the board members incur in expenses each month.

But claiming miles for what nearly equates to driving home from work does put a little more money into the pockets of Village Board members.