Questions arise over 'little fund'

Commissioners have some money for change and petty cash, an official said.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County Treasurer Gary Felasco says he is still waiting for a response for his questions about the "little fund" in the county commissioners' office.
Felasco issued a press release Friday contending that an employee of the county commissioners' office wanted to know whether the commissioners could endorse a check made out to them.
All checks for county business must be made out to the county treasurer and then deposited into the county's general fund account, according to county code.
Felasco contends that the employee said the money would be returned to the commissioners' "little fund."
County Administrator/Chief Clerk Charleen Micco explained Tuesday that the commissioners' office does keep some cash on hand to make change for people wanting photocopies, and they also have a petty cash fund, which is audited by the county controller.
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She said from Dec. 4, 1998, to May 12, 2003, the office collected $70.70 from photocopies. On May 12, 2003, $60 was put into petty cash, she said. The petty cash fund is usually used to pay for mailing expenses under $10, she noted.
She said the photocopy envelope now has $22.40.
Anybody writing a check for photocopies is normally sent to the treasurer's office to make payment, Micco said. She normally handles the photocopies but was off last week when the check for photocopies was made out to the county commissioners.
Controller Mary Ann Reiter said she looked into the photocopy fund in the commissioners' office and found the records to be accurate. She noted, however, that the money should go to the treasurer's office to be deposited into the general fund, rather than be kept in an envelope.