A bill for the purchase of a new police vehicle for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was brought to the Commissioner’s attention this week, and to their annoyance, they discovered it was a purchase they had not approved. The Commissioners had previously passed a resolution that required they approve all purchases over $500 before they can be made, but the new vehicle, a 2011 Dodge Charger with a total price tag of $23,000, had not even been brought to the Commissioners attention before it was purchased.
The vehicle is being paid for by the Justice Center, and their budget has the money to cover the purchase. However, because the Board of Commissioners owns the cars, the Commissioners must sign all titles; they have not yet seen the title for the new car.
“Just because it’s budgeted doesn’t necessarily mean they get to circumvent that process that the county set in front,” said Commissioner Kenneth Boswell. “Can we theoretically stop them? Maybe not, but we can at least have them come in front of us and tell us about it, and that didn’t even happen.”
The question the Commissioners could not answer was how to proceed. The car is unlikely to be able to be returned for a full refund, so sending it back might not be an option. The claim was not approved, and this claim will be further discussed.
