Inyo County adopts CalCard policy to replace prior county credit-card arrangement

The Inyo County Board of Supervisors approved a new CalCard policy April 8 to standardize county credit-card usage and replace the county's prior Bank of America cards.

Auditor-Controller Amy Shepherd explained the county moved away from Bank of America after a 2019 policy change limited issuance and required employees to provide Social Security numbers. Shepherd said the CalCard program (on the state's contract) is designed for government agencies, provides a county-wide limit with flexible per-user controls and allows the county to adjust limits quickly.

Shepherd described implementation steps if the board approved the policy: collect user agreements from current cardholders, provide training, and work with each department to structure card issuance and limits appropriate to their operations. She also said the policy includes disciplinary language allowing suspension or termination of card privileges and, where applicable, personnel action if cards are misused for personal purchases.

Board members asked procedural questions about billing-cycle language and how the county would treat out-of-county vendors; staff clarified the statement-close and posting dates and that statement activity posts on the 25th with clearing on the 26th or next business day. A supervisor also asked whether suspension or termination referred to card-use privileges or employment; Shepherd said both are possible and personnel would determine penalties.

The board moved and seconded approval and adopted the CalCard policy by unanimous voice vote.

What happens next: Auditor-Controller's office will collect user agreements, perform training and work with departments to implement per-department control structures for card issuance and limits.