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Resident presses county on audit findings: elected-official pay and credit-card policies draw scrutiny
Summary
A resident cited audit excerpts that suggested an elected official approved pay increases without commission approval and flagged unclear departmental credit-card practices; county counsel described the legal situation as unsettled and noted statutory protections for certain elected offices.
FORT SCOTT — During the July 8 Bourbon County Commission meeting, a resident identified as Anne Dair read items from an audit report and asked whether the county had adopted policies to prevent elected officials from approving pay increases without commission approval and whether department credit-card use is properly documented.
"There’s a state statute that says county elected officials and appointed officials' compensation is fixed by the board," Dair said, reading from the audit materials and asking whether the county has policies or guidelines to make officials aware of that requirement.
County counsel (Speaker 6) responded that the issue has been discussed with several attorneys and is legally "a gray area." He said once the commission approves a budget, an elected department may spend within that approved budget, and that pursuing litigation over internal pay decisions would be difficult. Counsel noted case law and practice that make it challenging to unwind funding for two statutorily important offices — the sheriff's office and the county attorney's office.
On credit cards and charge accounts, Dair said the audit did not specify which departments were involved and asked whether records were discoverable. Commissioners and counsel again described limits on the commission's authority over elected departments, noting the county has discussed procedures with outside counsel and the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC).
Commissioners asked departments under the commission’s direct control to ensure receipts and documentation are submitted for review. One commissioner said departments under commission purview already follow receipt and reimbursement procedures.
The exchange was largely a public-question-and-answer session; the commission did not adopt new, countywide policy changes on the spot. Commissioners suggested continuing the conversation with legal counsel and KAC and encouraged department-level compliance with existing procedures. Dair concluded by thanking the commission and said she would reserve additional comments for the record.
No formal motions or disciplinary actions were taken during the meeting on these audit concerns.
