CLEVELAND, Tenn. – A pattern of misuse of Bradley County credit cards is a management problem that needs fixing, but state auditors told county leaders Monday they found no “intentional breakdown” of rules for credit card use.
Steve Reeder, Mid-East Tennessee regional director of audits for the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, and some of his staff appeared before the Bradley County Commission’s Audit Committee to discuss findings in the county’s 2015-16 audit.
The chief finding concerned widespread documentation problems when workers swiped county cards for meals, hotel rooms, fuel and other expenses.
Of 430 credit card purchases in the 2015-16 fiscal year, more than half – 238 – lacked either detailed receipts or signed charge slips, or were charges made locally. County policy calls for the cards to be used only for travel expenses and emergency purchases, and local uses must be explained in writing.
Auditors noted the lack of documentation left open the door for improper purchases, although none were cited in the audit.