At least two Augusta commissioners say that the credit card spending policy City Administrator Odie Donald unveiled at this week’s commission meeting is too little, too late.
“This is, in my opinion, a day late and a dollar short. Why wasn’t this done years ago?” District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight said. “I believe this is a case of people covering their butts.”
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The new policy designates a Finance Department Director Donna Williams as the “card administrator,” giving her the power to approve or deny expenditures over a certain amount.
Single purchases are limited to $500 each, and no department or elected official can spend more than $5,000 in a calendar month without the Finance Department’s approval.
The policy also tasks the card administrator with collecting and maintaining receipts on all purchases.
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Donald’s draft of the new policy goes to great length to make it clear there is no difference between a “p-card” or a “credit card.” The policy states that the rules cover any “financial transaction card issued by any business organization, financial institution or any duly authorized agent of such organization or institution, used by a county official to purchase goods, services and other things of value on behalf of the county.”
The former financial card policy only referred to “p-cards,” which gave Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis a semantic loophole when his credit card purchases were scrutinized in the media. Davis claimed his credit card was not a p-card; therefore, the policy did not cover the use of his city issued credit card.
The policy also calls for the commission to hold a vote, which is required by Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. §§ 16-9-37 and O.C.G.A. §§ 36-80-2), to allow elected officials to continue using financial transaction cards.
However, McKnight and District 10 Commissioner John Clarke say that while having an official policy is a good step forward, they are going to continue to demand a city-wide forensic audit even if the majority of the commission keeps voting the matter down in session.
Both McKnight and Clarke say constituents in their districts are demanding answers.
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“This isn’t directed at one person, but the commission is charged with conducting the people’s business, and this is part of the people’s business. There absolutely must be an accounting on how public money is spent. That should just be common sense,” Clarke said.
McKnight agreed and went a step further, commenting that departments that are well run and being financially responsible ought to be recognized for watching the purse strings and saving taxpayer’s money.
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“Those people in the various departments that are doing nothing wrong should welcome an audit so that the community can applaud them for doing a good job,” McKnight said.
The new policy has been placed on the commission’s consent agenda, which means there will be no discussion before the vote unless a commissioner pulls the item for discussion.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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