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GREENSBORO — As county commissioners seek budget cuts to save taxpayer money, one $16,500 expense remains untouched.

Each commissioner has up to $1,500 in tax money each year to use on travel, meals and lodging at conferences across the country.

Some commissioners say it’s a helpful expense to get ideas from other elected officials. Others assert it’s a frivolous use of tax money.

“I’m planning on going to the national forum for black public administrators in Oakland,” said Melvin “Skip” Alston, chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Alston and Commissioner Carolyn Coleman will go, he said, because Guilford County will host the black administrators forum next year.

Other commissioners will go to this weekend’s legislative meeting for the National Association of County Commissioners in Washington.

In reaction to recent reports in other local media, Commissioner Bruce Davis said he’s cutting his plans for the weekend conference. Instead of staying for six nights, he said he would be there for three nights.

“And instead of flying, I will drive,” Davis said. At a previous national conference, Davis brought back an idea for the county’s prescription medicine cards.

Commissioners such as Billy Yow have consistently spoken against travel spending, but Davis and others say that going to conferences is a good way to get ideas.

“I went to Hawaii and caught some grief because of it,” said Commissioner Paul Gibson, referring to a previous national conference for commissioners. “And what we do in Washington directly affects what happens in North Carolina.”

Spending on the national stimulus package will be determined this weekend, he said, though he can’t go to the meeting.

“I get more out of these conferences than anything we do,” Gibson said. “If you go and do it right, it’s a very strong tool for being an elected official.”

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com