What do designer sunglasses, a decorative tire cover and a raincoat have in common?
They?re all personal items Baltimore County employees charged on government-issued credit cards, according to a recent audit that also said supervisors did not always require employees to submit receipts to verify purchases.
Nonbusiness purchases made by 49 employees in the county Department of Public Works? Bureau of Highways on procurement cards, or “p-cards,” totaled just $108, but government watchdogs said it could be indicative of a larger problem.
“Regular corporations police themselves very well on this issue, but the government doesn?t police itself very well,” said Dee Hodges president of the Maryland Taxpayers? Association. “Government accounting offices have to be very strict about it and lift the cards of the people who abuse it.”
Personal purchases could have been prevented had supervisors complied with procedures such as requiring sales receipts, auditors wrote in the report. Auditors tested 209 cards totaling nearly $34,000, including 13 transactions totaling $1,200 that were not supported by receipts.
The county has established price agreements with certain vendors to guarantee competitive prices on items such as batteries, office supplies and computers, but employees didn?t always take advantage of them, auditors wrote.
“We noted that the bureau purchased various-sized batteries at unit prices that were more than double the county?s price agreement,” the report says.
Department of Public Works Director Ed Adams agreed with the audit?s findings and said the county has been reimbursed for all personal items purchased. All future purchases will require supporting documentation, and employees will utilize price agreements, he said.
