Businesses help out Clean Air Campaign

Since starting its statewide campaign last year, the Atlanta-based Clean Air Campaign has established a partnership with five Augusta-area employers: Automatic Data Processing, Kellogg Co., Fort Gordon, Plant Vogtle and the Central Savannah River Area Air Quality Alliance.

The Clean Air Campaign provides free consulting and training for employers so they can protect the environment and not hurt the bottom line doing it.

Here are some examples:

CARPOOL: In the spring, Fort Gordon received assistance from the Clean Air Campaign in expanding its commuter options program. The campaign signed up employees and matched them, based on their destination, said Fort Gordon spokeswoman Marla Jones.

Thirty-six employees have signed up for the program, said Mike Williams, the director of programs and employer services for the Clean Air Campaign. Since the program launched in September, the Army post employees have logged 296 bicycle commutes, 95 carpool commutes, four employees who walk to work and two compressed work weeks, he said.

On average, 17 percent of a person's household income goes toward transportation. If employees carpool, they can save 54 cents a mile. By carpooling five days a week, they can save $2,000 a year, Mr. Williams said.

The Clean Air Campaign rewards employees with cash incentives, gas cards and a van-pool subsidy.

They can receive $3 a day up to $100, $40 to $60 in gas cards, and $25 in prizes.

TELEWORK : This alternative work arrangement extends the workplace beyond the traditional office.

Georgia employers can receive a telework tax credit of up to $20,000 for costs related to program development and up to $900 per teleworker created.

Georgia has allocated $2.5 million in tax credits for the program for 2010 and 2011, according to the campaign.

Employers that pay Georgia income tax and that will incur expenses to enable employees to begin teleworking in 2010 and 2011 are eligible to apply.

To receive the tax credit for 2010, employers must apply between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31 of this year.

Employers can receive a $900 tax credit if an employee teleworks at least 12 days a month and $300 if the employee teleworks at least five days a month.

The average office worker who travels nearly 6,000 miles a year can save $1,000 in gasoline and prevent 6,000 pounds of emissions by teleworking, according to the campaign.

TAXES: Through the Commuter Choice Tax Benefits program, there are federal tax benefits for employers and employees using alternative modes of transportation:

Employees can use pre-tax money for transit and van-pool expenses.

Employers can save in payroll taxes, Mr. Williams said.

An employee who sets aside $230 a month for van-pooling will save $1,067 a year in taxes (FICA, FUTA, federal and state taxes). The employer also saves $211 per employee per year in FICA and FUTA, according to the Clean Air Campaign.

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.