A1516 EQUIPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TOOL ALLOWANCE POLICY.PDF

Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
Reviewed by: Approved by: Maricopa County Revision Date:
Board of Supervisors
A. Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to establish a Tool Allowance for Equipment Services’
Technicians to assist in the maintenance of their required tools and to help attract and
retain qualified employees.
B. Definitions:
Direct Labor Hours – The hours of work performed by a Service Technician that are
directly linked to a work order. These hours are what are billed to the customer for work
done on their equipment or vehicle.
Personal Tool Inventory (hand tool) – Tools that Service Technicians are required to
provide for their work at Maricopa County. These tools are described on the attached
inventory list (Attachment A).
Service Technician – An employee whose primary job duty is to repair and/or maintain
County vehicles and equipment whether assigned to Light Duty, Heavy Duty, Field
Services, Preventative Maintenance or Welding Shops.
Special Tools – Tools such as scanners, three-quarter size impact tools, and oversize
wrenches.
Taxable Income – Income that is included in the employee’s gross income, reported on
the employee’s W-2 Form, and is subject to with-holding and payment of federal
employment taxes.
C. Eligibility:
Service Technicians must be employed for at least six months as a full-time employee in
an eligible market range, have an overall satisfactory rating on their employee
performance review, and maintain a satisfactory tool inventory in order to be eligible to
receive the tool allowance. Employees who satisfy all elements of eligibility during a
quarter are eligible for the tool allowance in the quarter in which they become eligible.
For example, an employee who reaches six months of full-time employment in an eligible
market range and has a satisfactory performance review and tool inventory during the
month of May; would be eligible to receive the tool allowance for the approved direct
labor hours worked during April, May and June which is paid during July.
Employees who fail to meet eligibility requirements during a quarter will not be paid a
tool allowance for the quarter in which they became ineligible. For example, if an
employee moves to an ineligible market range, is less than full time, leaves the County,
or has a less than satisfactory performance review and/or tool inventory during the
month of May, then the employee would not receive a tool allowance for the approved
billable hours worked during April, May and June.

Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
The Market Range Titles that are considered to be Service Technicians are as follows:
1. Mechanic – Automotive
2. Mechanic – Heavy Equipment
3. Mechanic – Lead
4. Mechanic – Supervisor
5. Preventative Maintenance Technician
6. Trades Specialist
D. Policy:
Equipment Services’ Technicians are required to perform repair and maintenance
services on County vehicles and equipment. As a condition of employment, Service
Technicians are required to provide and maintain a tool inventory. All tools owned by the
technicians are required to be in good condition in order to accomplish all assigned
work. Tools are to be on-site at the assigned workstation during the Service Technician’s
assigned work hours. Equipment Services furnishes all special tools when needed.
Equipment Services will determine minimum tool requirements based upon individual job
descriptions and current fleet composition. Criteria used in determining whether a
specific tool should be supplied by the department or be required of the employee
includes cost, frequency of use, and generally follows the accepted standards of the
industry. A newly hired employee will have 30 days to update his / her personal tool
inventory. A supervisor will conduct the initial tool inventory. Additionally, a supervisor
will conduct an annual tool inventory as part of the annual performance review process
and a copy of the result will be maintained on file. All required personal tools must be on
hand during the inventory inspections. All tools will be subject to periodic inspections by
the Equipment Services Department for accountability and serviceability. An employee
will have 30 days to update his / her personal tool inventory in the case of a less than
satisfactory tool inventory inspection.
Predicated on budget approval each fiscal year, a quarterly tool allowance will be
recorded in the payroll system in the first month of the quarter based on the performance
information of the previous quarter. All eligible Service Technicians will receive $0.35 for
each direct labor hour approved in the previous quarter. Overtime hours are counted as
regular time, not time and a half (i.e. one overtime billable hour counts as one direct
labor hour for the tool allowance). The tool allowance will be disbursed through the
normal payroll cycle and is taxable income. The allowance is for the usage and
replacement of required personal tools, which employees must utilize to perform
maintenance and repair of County vehicles and equipment.
The allowance shall be used at the discretion of the employee.
1. Tools may be removed from the Service Technician’s job site during non-work
page 2 of 7

Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
hours. However, tools shall at the job site during the Service Technician’s work
hours. The allowance shall not be used to purchase or replace a second set of
tools used away from the job site.
2. The allowance shall apply only to tools authorized by the department as being
necessary for the performance of their duties.
3. Tools purchased shall be used for the service of the County but shall be the
property of the employee.
4. Proof of purchase or receipts for replacement tools is not required.
page 3 of 7

Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
ATTACHMENT A – Tool List
Adjustable Wrench 4” – 8” – 12”
Combination Wrench (inches) 1/4” – 9/32” – 5/16” – 11/32” – 3/8” – 7/16” – 1/2" 9/16” - 5/8” –
11/16” – ¾” – 13/16” – 7/8” – 15/16” – 1.0”
Combination Wrench (millimeters) 6MM through 19MM
Battery Terminal Wrench
Shallow Socket (6pt) 3/8” dr. Female to 1/2" dr. Male adapter
3/8” dr. x 3/8”
3/8” dr. x 7/16”
3/8” dr. x 1/2”
3/8” dr. x 9/16”
3/8” dr. x 5/8”
3/8” dr. x 11/16”
3/8” dr. x 3/4"
3/8” dr. x 13/16”
3/8” dr. x 7/8”
Shallow Socket 3/8” dr. 8MM through 19MM
Adapter 1/2" dr. x 3/8”
3/8” dr. x 1/4"
Universal Joint 3/8” dr.
1/2” dr.
Deep Socket (12 pt) 1/2" dr. x 1/2"
1/2” dr. x 9/16”
1/2" dr. x 5/8”
1/2" dr. x 11/16”
1/2" dr. x 3/4"
1/2" dr. x 13/16”
1/2" dr. x 7/8”
1/2" dr. x 13/16” (Spark Plug Socket)
1/2" dr. x 5/8” (Spark Plug Socket)
Deep Socket (6 pt) 3/8” dr. x 3/8”
3/8” dr. x 7/16”
3/8” dr. x 1/2"
3/8” dr. x 9/16”
3/8” dr. x 5/8”
3/8” dr. x 11/16”
3/8” dr. x 3/4”
3/8” dr. x 13/16”
3/8” dr. x 7/8”
1/4” dr. x 3/16”
1/4” dr. x 7/32”
1/4" dr. x 1/4"
1/4" dr. x 9/32”
1/4" dr. x 5/16”
1/4" dr. x 11/32”
1/4" dr. x 3/8”
1/4" dr. x 4MM through 10MM
Adapter 3/8” x 1/4"
Deep Socket 3/8” dr. x 8MM through 19MM
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Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
Shallow Socket (6 pt) 1/4” dr. x 3/16”
1/4” dr. x 7/32”
1/4" dr. x 1/4"
1/4" dr. x 9/32”
1/4" dr. x 5/16”
1/4" dr. x 11/32”
1/4” Socket Rail
1/4" Universal Joint
1/2" dr. x 1/2"
1/2” dr. x 9/16”
1/2" dr. x 5/8”
1/2" dr. x 11/16”
1/2" dr. x 3/4"
1/2" dr. x 13/16”
1/2" dr. x 7/8”
1/2" dr. x 15/16”
1/2” dr. x 1.0”
1/2" dr. x 1-1/16”
1/2” dr. x 1-1/8”
Shallow Socket 1/4” dr. x 4MM through 10MM (including 5.5MM)
Universal Socket 3/8: dr. x 7/16”
3/8” dr. x 1/2"
3/8” dr. x 7/16”
3/8” dr. x 5/8”
3/8” dr. x 11/16”
3/8” dr. x 3/4"
3/8” dr. x 10MM through 17MM
Adapter 1/2” dr. x 3/4"
Line Wrench 1/4” x 5/16”
3/8” x 7/16”
1/2" x 9/16”
5/8” x 11/16”
3/4” x 13/16”
Line Wrench (Metric) 9MM x 11MM
10MM x 12MM
13MM x 14MM
15MM x 17MM
16MM x 18MM
19MM x 21MM
Ratchet 3/8” dr.
Flex Ratchet 3/8” dr.
Extension 3/8” x 1-1/2”
Extension 3/8” x 3”
Extension 3/8” x 6”
Extension 3/8” x 11”
Impact Extension 3/8” x 1-3/4”
3/8” x 3.0”
3/8” x 6”
3/8” x 12”
1/2" x 3”
1/2" x 6”
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Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
Impact Extension 1/2" x 12”
Ratchet 1/4" dr.
Ratchet 1/2" dr.
Extension 1/4" dr. x 2
Extension 1/4" dr. x 4”
Extension 1/4" dr. x 6”
Extension 1/2" dr. x 2”
Extension 1/2" dr. x 20
Flex Extension 1/4” dr. x 6”
Breaker Bar 1/2"
Impact Shallow Socket 1/2" dr. x 1/2"
1/2" dr. x 9/16”
1/2" dr. x 5/8”
1/2” dr. x 11/16”
1/2" dr. x 3/4"
1/2" dr. x13/16”
1/2" dr. x 7/8”
1/2” dr. x 15/16”
1/2” dr. x 1.0”
1/2" dr. x 1-16
1/2" dr. x 1-1/8”
3/8” dr. x 8MM through 24MM
3/8” dr. x 3/8”
3/8” dr. x 7/16
3/8” dr. x 1/2"
3/8” dr. x 9/16”
3/8” dr. x 5/8”
3/8” dr. x 11/16”
3/8” dr. x 3/4”
Impact Socket 1/2” dr. x 13MM through 24MM
Impact Deep Socket 3/8” dr. x 3/8”
3/8” dr. x 7/16
3/8” dr. x 1/2"
3/8” dr. x 9/16”
3/8” dr. x 5/8”
3/8” dr. x 11/16”
3/8” dr. x 3/4”
3/8” dr. x 8MM through 24MM
Extra Deep Impact Socket 1/2" dr. x 1/2"
1/2" dr. x 9/16”
1/2" dr. x 5/8”
1/2” dr. x 11/16”
1/2" dr. x 3/4"
1/2" dr. x13/16”
1/2" dr. x 7/8”
1/2” dr. x 15/16”
1/2” dr. x 1.0”
1/2" dr. x 1-16
1/2" dr. x 1-1/8”
Offset Ratcheting Box End 1/4” x 5/16”
3/8” x 7/16”
page 6 of 7

Maricopa County Internal Policy Number: A1516
Policy, Procedure, Standard or Title: Equipment Services Issue Date: 6/18/2008
Guideline Department Tool Allowance Policy
Policy Category: Transportation Initiating Department: Equipment Revision:
Services
Offset Ratcheting Box End 1/2” x 9/16”
5/8” x 11/16”
3/4” x 7/8”
7MM x 8MM
9MM x 10MM
11MM x 12MM
13MM x 14MM
15MM x 17MM
Hex Key Set Standard 15 pc including case
Hex Key Set Metric 11 pc including case
Flat Tip Screwdriver 2”, 3”, 4”, 6”, 8”
Cross Tip Screwdriver 2”, 3”, 4”, 6”
Other Tools Driver 1/4"
Scribe
6” Steel Ruler
Tape Measuring 12”
Slip Joint Pliers 7-1/2”
Diagonal Cutting Pliers 7”
Channel Lock Pliers 9”
Needle Nose Pliers 7”
Angle Nose Pliers
Snap Ring Pliers (9PC)
Bent Blade Feeler Gauge (25 blade)
Test Light
Wire Brush
Terminal Brush (2 PC)
Side Terminal Cleaner
Brake Spoon
Brake Spring Tool
Pry Bar 8”, 12”, 18”, 24”
Magnetic Tool 17”
Cable Clamp Pliers
Vise Grips 4”
Vise Grips 10”
Pipe Wrench 7”
Needle Nose Vise Grips 6”
Ball Peen Hammer 16 oz.
Flashlight 2 (cell)
Air Ratchet 3/8”
Air Impact 3/8” and 1/2"
Blow Gun
Air Impact 3/8”
Air Impact 1/2"
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