Sponsor: Finance
Title
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Food and Beverage Expense Policy Annual Threshold Increase
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Recommendation
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Approve an increase to the Food and Beverage Policy annual threshold to $100,000.
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Background and Rationale
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On September 22, 2022, the county board approved an increase to the food and beverage policy annual threshold to $50,000 to accommodate for Ramsey County-sponsored conferences, meetings, or events that benefit the county.
The Food and Beverage Policy addresses allowable food and beverage expenses associated with the countywide employee recognition program, county business meetings, grant activities, county-sponsored public events and volunteer activities. County expenditures for food and beverage are limited to occasions that have a clear county business purpose.
Since 2022, the increased threshold has helped the county build meaningful relationships with numerous agencies and organizations to advance the county’s mission, vision, and goals. Departments used funds to host meetings with housing collaboratives, host community dinners, and to provide lunch for learning community cohorts. As the county continues to build meaningful relationships with agencies and organizations, providing meals is one approach to strengthen those relationships.
To continue fostering these relationships and deepening community engagement between the county and its partners, Finance recommends the annual threshold be increased to $100,000.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
There is no direct racial equity impact with this action, but the increased threshold will allow Ramsey County to collaborate with community organizations to advance the counties mission, vision, and goals.
Community Participation Level and Impact
This action is strictly operation and internal facing and there was no community engagement with this request.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The intent of this request is to set an annual threshold of $100,000 to ensure that the organization as a whole is being fiscally responsible when using funds. Individual departments are responsible for covering food and beverage costs within their budget when hosting events.
Last Previous Action
On November 11, 2022, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved an increase to the Food and Beverage Policy annual threshold to $50,000 (Resolution B2022-267).
On October 4, 1994, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners established a County Expense Account up to a limit of $20,000 (Resolution 94-457).
Attachments
None.