Colquitt makes the BingeBucks list
by MCL Staff Writer

With the Atlanta Journal- Constitution not being available in Colquitt anymore except by mail, this newspaper had over 10 copies of the December 23 edition of the Constitution to show the front page.

According to the article by Andrea Jones and Megan Clarke, BINGEBUCKS, was an analysis of more than four million transactions on government purchasing cards in the past three years.

The AJC article stated that there are now more than 223,000 cards floating around the state, where city, county and state employees use the plastic cards to buy hundreds of thousands of goods from mattresses to jewelry and everything in between. This year, the spending spree for government purchasing cards will hit $370 million.

The AJC article revealed that while the vast majority of the purchases were legitimate, there were plenty that were suspect. The legitimacy of the charges are many times complicated by shaky policies and practices on how the purchase cards could be used.

Some purchases weren't as if they seem, like the Georgia Perimeter College spent $51.55 at drntura.com - "The #1 Colon Cleaning and Body Detox resource."

A few categories of state and local employees' card charges since 2005 according to AJC was:

$13 million in travel expenses, including $6 million for plane tickets., $240 in booking fees and $6.1 million in hotels and resort charges. Almost $6 million at Amazon.com, $2.2 million at florists, $9.3 million at restaurants and caterers including $657,000 at Chickfil A, $91,000 for jewelers, and $56,000 for gift cards.

Many purchasing cards prohibit purchases of fuel, entertainment, professional services such as lawyers and doctors, gift cards: but all personal items are taboo. The AJC analysis found the following categories and amounts: Entertainment $881,712; Gas stations $318,039; Gift cards $56,139; Services $1,192,148.

The AJC article stated that Shannon Dunaway, a police sergeant in Colquitt at the time, used his city card for two transactions totaling $190 at Psycho Clown Tattoo. The article stated that Dunaway found himself in a bind while traveling after his personal credit card was frozen.

"They had done the work and I didn't have no choice," Dunaway said. He stated that he reimbursed the city when he got home. The charge violated policy nonetheless.

In an interview with Shannon Dunaway, Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Colquitt, he stated that this year he was traveling in Texas and his personal debit card was declined. Dunaway said that he knew it was good, but he didn't know what to do. He stated that he was 12 hours from home and owed for a tattoo of a cross or crucifix on his arm. He used the city card and repaid what he owed as soon as he returned to Colquitt. He said he had not used the city card before for personal use and surely would never again.

Cory Thomas, Colquitt City Manager stated, "The incident was unfortunate for the individual and was handled possibly the best way that it could have been, given the situation. The money spent was reimbursed to the City of Colquitt in a timely manner and steps have been taken to clarify policy to make sure that this will not occur in the future."

One officialstated, "If you have to make the front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, we are in high and educated company with the Governor's Mansion, Georgia Dept. of Human Resources, World Congress Center, Georgia State University, Cobb Co. Schools, Boards of Commissioners, Boards of Education and GBI."

The AJC report stated that over 2100 plus cards have been reported, lost or stolen, some multiple times.

It is good that taxpayer spent monies are checked on. AJC promises more extensive audits in the future.

A PARTIAL LIST OF STATE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR CHARGERS