March 30, 2010
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Florida County Officials Spar Over Credit Card Spending, Pt.2
Finding the holes and filling in the gaps.If Peggy Caskey is correct in her assessment, how is it that there are over $42,000 in late credit card payments? Would the limitations on employee spending not be set according to the budget? What limits are set by the county? Who approves employee expenditures and what is involved in the approval process? The Director of Purchasing and Contracts sets the maximum dollar amount for a single credit card transaction at $1,000. Any purchase over the $1,000 limit must be approved by the Director. The county sets a maximum of $5,000 overall for each credit card issued to an employee. So, at $5,000 a crack for over 300 cards, the county could have a hefty bill to pay at the end of each month.
The first step in managing the county's credit card statements begins with the county supervisors who are responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions. Supervisors are required to examine each statement prior to forwarding it on to the Finance Department. Finance Director Amy Gillis says the Finance Department is responsible for auditing the card accounts and Caskey sends a letter to the county supervisors alerting them of any delinquent credit card accounts. While auditing the accounts, Gillis says they don't question whether or not the expenditure was a wise decision but rather their concern is whether or not the purchases meet spending guidelines and that all required documentation is present. For example; no fast food purchases.
Additional safeguards are taken to monitor unauthorized transactions such as fast food purchases. Jim Gantt, Purchasing Director said that the county credit cards are programmed to deny purchases at selected merchants such as fast food restaurants. Michael Nickerson, Chief of the County Fire Department defended his department saying they have nothing to hide. If employees have remained within the purchasing guidelines which are said to meet the county budget, why the delinquent card statements?