It all sounds like an IRS nightmare.

Marks and Quirk had a wash, though Quirk took a personal loss.

Everybody else seems to be making a profit of around $2500 per year, assuming Marks had average mileage with a $3600 reimbursement.

That looks like untaxed income to my non-CPA eye.

In the nineties, I had a state car and paid for the personal, commuting miles, through a payroll deduction. Truly personal usage, like attending campaign events was prohibited under penalty of loss of the vehicle and being required to use pool cars.

The undocumented or arbitrary basis for the county 10% charge sounds like a lot of the policies from the Agnew and Anderson eras that carry on as long as no one is looking or raising questions.

This shameful policy should be eliminated. The council members should be reimbursed at the IRS rates for driving on county business. They can drive their own cars on personal business. Like the rest of us do. For 54,000 a year, they can afford to buy something to drive. Maybe ken Oliver should buy a bike. He could use the exercise.

IRS Publication 15-B governs the rules for employers that provide cars to their employees. The publication does not appear to indicate that a general "10%" rule is permitted but actual reporting of the mileage must be done.

One of the methods allowed by the IRS is the "Annual Lease Value" and that method takes into account the value and thus the age of the vehicle and would result in a fairly low number. In addition, the County would add 5.5 cents per mile for fuel provided for personal use as well. Commuting to and from the office is considered personal use.

Overall, probably making a mountain out of a mole hill. A 2006 Chevy Impala might be worth $5,000 retail for a seven year old car.

Wow! a lot of math here, but even so it looks like Councilman Marks was reimbursed a lot of money for using his own car. On the surface his campaign promise to forgo a County car looks commendable until a more detailed report like this comes out. Not that he's doing anything illegal, but misleading people is shameful. That like boasting " I give up steak during Lent", but then eating stuffed lobster tail instead. Good reporting Mr. Sears. I commend Councilman Quirk for foregoing both the car and personal mileage reimbursement.

Bystander,

How did Marks mislead people? He never said he wouldn't seek reimbursement? This story is getting old. Isn't there real news happening, like speed camera contracts being illegal? Really, even the info about Huff and Bevins is old. Where's the real story?

The real story here isn't about a politician changing his/her position on a 'perk' of the job - when should we ever be surprised with hypocrisy in 'leadership.' The story I am most impressed about is Tom Quirk. He lives probably the farthest from Towson, but as sought neither the car nor reimbursement. Further, he's not out there pounding his chest saying 'see what I have done' and drawing attention to his popular decision. Keep it up Mr. Quirk, I wish I could vote for you. The other thing that slays me about these facts is the tone deafness when it comes to choice of car. Gas is up approaching 4 dollars a gallon, and Huff (was), Oliver and Olzsewski are driving SUVs. Are they really out there driving off road or in deep snow? Pathetic entitlement culture on the council.

Maybe they should install Blow-n-Go's in them. If they are under the influence they won't start. Our Gov't. wants to monitor us every way they can (red light and speed cameras, the list goes on) why can't we the people monitor our Gov't?

Hey we can even name it after Todd Huff. The Huff-n-Puff............LOL