Carson to Issue Credit Cards to City Council

Carson City Council members who travel on official business will soon be able to have their expenses rung up on city credit cards.

Plane tickets, hotel reservations and meals, for example, could be charged on the cards, which are to be issued to each of the five council members. However, a credit limit has yet to be set, which prompted Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt to charge that the cards are tantamount to “a blank check.”

City Administrator Larry Olson said a credit limit would likely be set by the bank that issues the card. “This is very standard,” Olson said. “Other officials in other cities use these kinds of cards.”

Olson added that all charges on the cards would be reviewed by the city’s Finance Department and treasurer’s office. Each council member has a $4,400 annual travel and expense budget.

The decision to issue the cards was approved by the council Tuesday night on 3-2 vote. Mayor Michael Mitoma and councilwomen Juanita McDonald and Sylvia Muise supported the move.

Opposing it were DeWitt and Councilwoman Kay Calas.

The action comes a year after the council rejected a similar proposal. McDonald, who opposed authorizing such cards last year, was the swing vote Tuesday.

McDonald said she changed her stance because she was embarrassed about sharing a single card issued to City Administrator Larry Olson when she attended conferences with officials from other cities.

“When we are out representing the city, there is a need for the council members to have access to a card to pay for expenses,” McDonald said. “Sophistication and professionalism need to come into play here. There is a certain posture we should have as a representative of the city.”

Added Mitoma: “It’s crazy to have one card for six decision-makers.”

Council members who did not use Olson’s card and paid expenses out of their own pockets applied to the city for reimbursement for their costs. Supporters of the policy change say that system was burdensome and that the new cards will make it easier to pay expenses.

However, DeWitt criticized the council for approving the cards without first setting guidelines on usage.

“There’s no oversight,” she said.