§ 2-115. Unauthorized purchases and authority to pay.

(a)

Generally. It shall be unlawful for any county commissioner or county employee to knowingly and willingly make any unauthorized purchase or contract for goods and/or services, sell trade or dispose of any items within the purview of this division in the name of or on behalf of the county other than through the purchasing director, unless otherwise authorized in this section, and any purchase, order or contract made contrary to this division shall not be approved and the county shall not be bound thereby.

(b)

Authority to pay. In instances where a using agency has made an unauthorized purchase due to circumstances including but not limited to the delayed receipt of an invoice from a vendor or after a purchase order has been closed, a detailed written justification will be required to be provided to the purchasing department and approved by the purchasing director, county administrator, or board based on the threshold dollar amount. The county has the authority to pay all such transactions in its sole discretion when in the best interest of the county to do so, provided they are in conformance with the law and applicable policies, rules and regulations.

(c)

Emergency. This section shall not apply to any emergency purchase which is subsequently approved by the purchasing director or county administrator upon justification by the using agency.

(Ord. No. 15-26, § 2, 12-15-15; Ord. No. 18-16, § 12, 6-5-18)