Miss Davis, the county’s finance director, presented updates to the Chatham County financial policy and the board voted to approve the changes.

Davis said the policy review consolidates multiple administrative procedures into a policy document and adds or clarifies provisions across accounts payable, procurement, budgeting and travel. Among the changes she listed: a new accounts-payable policy covering P-card purchases; a requirement that online purchases (for example, via Amazon) be delivered to county-owned facilities; an increase in the enterprise-fund self-sufficiency target from 50% to 75% of operating costs; and a requirement for a five-year rolling Capital Improvement Program annual update.

Davis told the board that salary savings cannot be repurposed before year-end, a new policy added after “some snafus” last year, and that the annual budget book will be published on the county website. She said grants compliance language was streamlined into a policy and payroll policy material was added to the consolidated document.

She also explained administrative changes: responsibility for audits moved to internal audit while finance will continue to review purchases; the policy removes detailed administrative procedures and focuses on overarching policy statements. On travel, she said airline seat-assignment charges, travel insurance and entertainment (outside conference fees) are not reimbursable, hotel charges above conference rates are the traveler’s responsibility, and mileage reimbursement is capped at the cost of a round-trip airfare ticket.

A motion to approve the financial policy updates was made, seconded and approved by the board.