By AP
Tulsa, OK – EMSA tightens employee travel policies
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Emergency Medical Services Authority has approved stricter controls on spending following reports of more than $100,000 a year being spent in the past three years on travel-related costs.
EMSA trustees on Wednesday agreed to the new rules following newspaper reports on travel and items purchased by the agency that manages ambulance services in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas.
The new travel policy limits employees to the federal standard for travel per diem.
Most of the travel by EMSA President and CEO Steve Williamson is to Washington where the per diem is $71 a day for meals and expenses and $183 plus taxes for hotels. The reports by the Tulsa World and The Oklahoman found instances of $500-a-night hotel rooms, catered meals and a $2,800 retirement party.