Section 165. A. In lieu of reimbursement for traveling expenses within their county each county commissioner and sheriff may receive a monthly travel allowance of up to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). In lieu of the reimbursement for traveling expenses authorized by law for each county officer, each county assessor may receive a monthly travel allowance of up to Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00), and each county clerk, court clerk and county treasurer may receive a monthly travel allowance of up to Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00). Each such county officer may be subject to the penalty provided by Section 166 of this title for failure to attend the meetings specified in that section.

B. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2028 and every fiscal year thereafter, the monthly amount of travel reimbursement allowances for county officers shall increase annually by two percent (2%).

C. All newly elected county officials shall be reimbursed by their respective counties for any approved training provided before such official takes office. Such training expenses shall be reimbursed in January when such official takes office.

D. The provisions of this section and Sections 163 and 164 of this title shall not prevent the emergency use of a county-owned vehicle or county-owned or leased equipment by a county officer when such county officer is acting on behalf of the county or when such use is related to county business. As used in this subsection, “emergency” means an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action.