Bradley credit card documentation problems
Office – No Receipt – Unsigned – In-town use – TotalSheriff – 29 – 111 – 6 – 146Fire Rescue – 9 – 33 – 6 – 48Assessor – 8 – 15 – 0 – 23EMA – 1 – 3 – 7 – 11Mayor – 5 – 5 – 0 – 10Source: Tennessee Comptroller’s Office
Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis
Jeff YarberCLEVELAND, Tenn. – A Bradley County commissioner asked Monday for an in-depth review of the county’s credit card policy after a recent state audit said more than half of employees’ charges weren’t properly documented.
“It is clearly evident that control and management of county credit cards is out of control,” Commissioner Thomas Crye said at Monday’s commission work session. “It gives the impression of a group of children with their hands in a candy jar, except the candy jar consists of taxpayer money.”
The annual audit by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office was mostly positive, detailing a well-run and financially stable county. At the meeting, county finance officer Rena Samples cited highlights showing healthy bank accounts, shrinking debt and capital spending for schools.
But auditors took exception to how county employees used credit cards. Of 430 transactions, auditors said, 238 were turned in lacking either detailed receipts or signatures that would help prove the cards were used properly. County policy says the cards may be used only for out-of-town travel or emergency purchases.