Board asks finance, treasurer, court admin and constables to present cash-handling policies after report of delayed deposits

The Board of Supervisors voted to ask county financial and court leaders — plus the constables — to present recommended policies on the handling of funds taken in by constables.

Supervisor Leppman moved the item forward during the Jan. 5 meeting after recounting two events that raised concerns about constable money handling, including an incident where roughly "just under $20,000" sat in a desk and deposits were behind schedule. After a detailed Q&A, Constable Mike Bogard described current practices: he maintains an electronic state log, prepares a county finance reconciliation, issues receipts or notes on returns of service, and said he deposits cash within "2 to 3, 4 days, at the most, a week" to avoid having cash on hand.

Attorney Davis reminded the board that constables operate under judicial authority and their duties and limited enforcement powers derive from state statute; finance and treasurer staff explained that some processes (bank reconciliation, copy distribution to clerk, treasurer, finance) exist but that there is no county-wide procedural map mandating deposit timing or receipt forms.

The board approved a motion that the county CFO, treasurer, court administrator, and the constables report back to the board by March 16, 2026 with recommended policies governing handling and depositing of funds received by constables.

Next steps: staff will prepare a presentation on proposed standardized process flows, deposit timing, receipt formats and reconciliation protocols and return to the board in March for either further direction or adoption of county policy.