KRUM - The Krum City Council amended the city's 2012 budget during a special meeting Monday to include 10 months of a $250 monthly car allowance for the mayor.
The council discussed the matter in December, voting 4-1 to allow the expenditure. After determining there was no city car for the mayor to use, council member Bert Witherspoon voted against the allowance in December. Witherspoon was absent from Monday's vote on the budget amendment.
Wilson said she often attends meetings and functions out of town and that the car allowance will cover the wear and tear on her car, as well as gas mileage.
Krum does not employ a city manager. The city has a population of about 4,157 and covers two square miles northwest of Denton.
"Before, I was just letting this [expense] go," Wilson said. "I'm very appreciative of this, especially with gas prices as they are these days. It will help a lot."
Wilson said she often travels to other cities, whether to work on grant submissions, attend county commissioners meetings or represent the city at various functions.
The Krum city staff polled municipal clerks in an e-mail group to see if other small Texas cities pay car allowances to mayors or city managers, and if so, how much.
No Denton County cities were among the nine that responded to the poll, with a range of $300 a month in Galena Park, a Houston suburb of 10,887, to $1,200 per month in Shenandoah, near The Woodlands.
The staff averaged the rates paid at the other seven cities, excluding Galena Park and Shenandoah, and found that they paid about $500 per month in car allowance.
The council authorized $250 per month in car allowance for Wilson. The budget amendment of $2,500 passed Monday represents 10 months of payments for the current fiscal year.
PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .
