Riley County moves to tighten purchase-card controls after auditor recommendation

Britney Phillips, Riley County budget and finance officer, told commissioners the county has taken steps to reduce the number of active purchase cards and is reviewing purchase-card policy to strengthen internal controls.

"Since that process began, over a hundred purchase cards have been canceled," Phillips said during the meeting, adding the county started the cleanup after auditors recommended a review. She said the county had "over 250 active" cards when the process began and that departments have worked to balance cancellations with a few new travel-specific cards for occasional training needs.

Phillips said that some new travel or departmental cards were issued to meet specific needs while the cleanup removed many rarely used cards. "We initiated, like, 3 or 4 travel cards in public works, but canceled at least 70," she said, describing work done with individual departments.

Phillips told the commission the budget and planning committee has been reviewing proposed policy updates and will present revisions to department heads before bringing a final draft back to the commission. She said the goal is to tighten internal controls and address findings raised in last year’s audit.

Commissioners did not take immediate formal action on a policy change during the meeting; Phillips said the next steps are department-head review followed by a return to the committee and then the full commission for consideration.

The presentation tied to routine audit follow-up and internal controls, and commissioners thanked Phillips for the work.