Southeast : Water Board Cancels Credit Card Privilege

Pico Rivera’s water board has decided it gave itself too much credit.

Concerns that Pico Water District board members were abusing their district-issued credit cards recently prompted the board to snip the privilege once and for all.

“[Board members] felt that the expenditures on the credit cards were running a little bit too high,” said district General Manager Joseph Dermody.

The cards--each with a $2,000 maximum line of credit--were issued to each of the board’s five members and general manager about five years ago to simplify accounting for business expenses such as meals at conferences.

But for two years now board members have debated how to regulate use of the cards because of past abuses, including charges to the district for long-distance towing of board members’ personal cars, said Board President Fred L. Silva. He added that the most recent problems involve board members buying meals for family members.

In voting 4-1 to banish the cards, the board rejected a proposal that members be limited to a certain budget for each conference. Now members will have to present receipts before they are reimbursed. . . .