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government standards
today, i received a compensation check from multnomah county for my recent tenure on jury, a financial note which graciously includes "mileage expenses," as calculated for the travel distance between my recorded address and the courthouse.
the face value is $2.00.
if this paltry sum accurately reflects the standard compensation policy for county employees, i will no longer wonder why they sound so disspassionate on the phone, or so indifferent at the dmv.
$2.00? really, why bother? surely, the expenses accrued in paying someone to document my presence, calculate that total, request the check, print the check, and post the check is a far greater sum. then again, maybe i paid for all that, and the remainder is the value of the check. maybe i'm lucky for not having to pay them for the pleasure of being on jury?
anyway.. it's quitting time now, and i'm craving a beer and a taco.
guess i better choose.
Comments
The funny thing is that the government does define standard mileage which is based on real research. You get that when you are taking a tax deduction for travel. Most companies use the same amount. It is around 38c IIRC.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward at September 29, 2005 07:55 PM
^ a potentially interesting observation.
google maps defines the distance between chez-jacque and the county courthouse to be 5.2 miles, one way. using the mileage variable defined above, $.38 a mile, the total calculates to 1.976... rounded generously to 1.98.
this suggests the remaining sum—$.02—represents compensation for my time and thoughts.
2 cents for my 2 cents, so to speak.
brilliant. maybe i *have* underestimated the county all this time.
Posted by: jack b. at September 30, 2005 07:37 AM
i have a comment. please update. i need something to read.
also, reviews of all those movies you watch could be fun.
hearts.
Posted by: juju at November 21, 2005 02:53 PM