Orange County comptroller authorized to secure supervisor-of-elections payroll after review finds spending, accounting gaps

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized the county comptroller to take steps to ensure the supervisor of elections’ employees are paid for the December 26 payroll after an internal review found the office had exceeded statutory spending limits and left its operating account at risk of overdraft.

Comptroller staff and the county attorney told commissioners they had reviewed allegations that large transfers and the timing of spending had created a cash shortfall in the supervisor’s office. Assistant County Attorney Deborah Nutcher and Assistant Comptroller Wendy Kittleson briefed the board on findings made after a rapid review of bank statements, check registers and contracts.

Kittleson summarized the comptroller’s review: state law (Fla. Stat. § 129.202(1)(a)) directs counties to remit 25% of an approved supervisor of elections’ annual budget in October and then smaller…