Answer

1. Absent, an AG opinion to the contrary, the district shouldn't pay more than one per diem for a single day. Various AG opinions have discussed language in other per diem statutes interpreting language allowing "$x per diem per day" as limiting the per diem to the amount regardless of how many meetings occur during the day. In the case of the St Tammany Fire Protection District No. 4 R.S. 40:1498(F) states: "Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, all members of the governing board of any fire protection district located wholly within the parish of St. Tammany may be paid a per diem of one hundred dollars for attending meetings of the board, not to exceed two meetings in any one calendar month, and fifty dollars for attending committee meetings, not to exceed two meetings in any one calendar month." As this language is different than the traditional statutory language for per diems, the AG might find that the per diem is owed for each meeting regardless of whether they occur on the same day, but the entity should not assume that this is the case without first seeking an opinion of the AG. 2. R.S. 40:1498(F) allows each board member to be compensated $100 for each meeting of the board ( this would include both regular and special meetings of the full board) for up to two meetings in a calendar month, and $50 per committee meeting again up to 2 in a calendar month. Thus the most any individual board member can be paid in any calendar month is $300 (2 board meetings, and 2 committee meetings.) Louisiana Legislative Auditor website: 05/01/2025 10:35:20 PM