Inventory
control needs
scrutinizing

The county commissioners are considering a policy change that would tighten inventory controls over county property.

Currently, the official threshold is anything more than $5,000, a level that would essentially include only high-value items like cars.

But it’s the little stuff – the calculators, the cameras, the cell phones – that are easy to lose or have stolen but don’t come under the purview of the current inventory system.

The commissioners are looking to establish a new dollar amount for inventory control. One suggestion has been $500, but $200 here and $300 there adds up quickly. At least one commissioner suggests a much lower threshold.

County government is a big organization, but if each department is responsible for its own inventory, the job isn’t nearly as daunting.

Granted, this has caused a fair amount of grousing among some county employees, but taxpayers deserve to know that the items their tax dollars buy aren’t walking out the door.

It is appropriate that the commissioners have this discussion since the county’s fund balance is at a bare bones minimum. A tighter policy will instill a sense of accountability and discipline.

The key, of course, is to make someone in each department responsible for inventory control, and that the list is reviewed and items accounted for on a routine basis.

Probably 99 percent of county employees are honest and would never steal, but when inventory control is lax, the temptation is there. And who knows what is taken by the public?

The extra accountability may be a hassle, but it will surely add a layer of integrity that’s hard to put a price on.