Council updates purchasing-authority limits, expands p-card use and raises emergency card limits for two directors

The Talent City Council adopted a resolution Sept. 17 delegating purchasing authority and establishing revised purchasing limits and controls for city staff. The change allows department heads to designate full‑time staff to receive city purchase cards for small, routine purchases and travel, subject to a new purchasing-card policy and supervisor approval of card transactions.

Finance Director Dana Mason told the council the change is intended to reduce time lost when supervisors or department directors must leave other work to buy routine materials, and to provide flexibility for necessary purchases that arise on short notice. Proposed controls include cardholder training, signed cardholder agreements, supervisor review of statements and reconciliation in the finance office.

The council also approved an administrative recommendation to raise the p-card limits for the police chief and the public works director from $5,000 to $10,000 to provide flexibility for emergency purchases; departmental cardholders otherwise would have lower single-transaction and monthly limits set by their department heads. Staff said purchase orders for larger sums and contract purchases would still use the city’s procurement module and require appropriate approvals.

Outcome: council adopted the resolution delegating purchasing authority and directed staff to finalize administrative policy and internal controls, including periodic reporting that staff agreed to provide to the council.