Costs for incentive picnics and other travel expenses for training and conference purchases through Starke County Community Corrections are asked to be put on a credit card instead of staff members using their own money upfront and then later be reimbursed.
Starke County Community Corrections Director Shawn Mattraw explained to the Starke County Commissioners last week that often times the organization will hold events for which food is needed. Picnics to reunify families and offenders and positive incentive picnics for offenders and their families are held, but the upfront cost is put up by the staff members. The staff members are later reimbursed. Mattraw noted that if the department had a credit card to be accessed only by Mattraw and Office Manager Jennifer Strickland, it would be an easier process.
Strickland said the card would be able to be used to reserve hotel rooms and other reservations for required conferences and training. Currently, the staff is using personal credit cards to hold the rooms which shouldn’t be the policy. Community Corrections is working with Auditor Kay Chaffins to get checks to pay for the rooms once payment is required so that process works.
Chaffins asked if the bank that holds the fees for Community Corrections has debit card availability for these specific needs. Strickland said when user fees are paid, the funds are deposited into a checking account at a local bank and then that money is deposited into the organization’s project income line item in the budget.
County Attorney Marty Lucas said having the option of the debit card would lessen the risk of misuse.
Strickland agreed to talk to the bank and work with Chaffins and Lucas to iron out the details and present their findings to the commissioners during their next meeting on Monday, June 18.
