March 29, 2010
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Florida County Officials Spar Over Credit Card Spending, Pt.1
A problem with delinquencies.One Florida county employee finds the need for taxpayers and county officials to take back control of government issued credit cards. Hernando County Circuit Court Clerk, Karen Nicolai expects to submit a proposal on revisions of the county's procedures for employee issued credit cards. A recent report released by Hernando Today showed that over 300 county employees have county issued credit cards. According to Nicolai, some employees are issued a county card and never use it and she believes these cards should not be issued. On the other hand, it is apparent that a number of employee card statements are concerning and indicate possible abuse. Nicolai said the changes are necessary to assure that spending is done "effectively, efficiently and with adequate controls." She expressed her concerns at a meeting of county officials including County Administrator, David Hamilton.
Nicolai doesn't stand alone in believing the county needs to take action to control credit card spending, Peggy Caskey, Audit Services Director, sent a letter to the county commissions stating that it is evident that a number of card statements bear evidence of questionable activity that could lead to "employee abuse or criminal activity." Most concerning are 59 credit card statements totaling over $42,200 in delinquent payments from the county fire department. The department has 305 employees who have been issued a county card to make small ticket purchases like gas and cleaning supplies. Like most counties, Hernando County officials feel it's more prudent to issue cards to employees who work in the field like firefighters to make small purchases than having to fill out time-consuming request forms.
Accounts Payable Supervisor, Joe Pecora, doesn't totally agree with Nicolai. He says that he has never noticed any employee credit card spending items that have raised any concerns. Pecora believes the real problem is with employees getting expenditure receipts submitted in a timely fashion rather than what the county's money is being spent on. The question is; what expenditures are allowed and how does the county monitor spending?