City Purchase Card Policies vary in Seminole County

Following the misuse of purchase cards in Winter Springs, here is a breakdown of some of the different city policies within Seminole County, as there is no uniform policy for the county.

A P-Card, also known as a purchasing card, is a corporate credit card issued to city employees using taxpayer money to make routine purchases or business-related travel expenses. 

The different cities in Seminole County have different restrictions on P-Card usage, such as maximum transaction amounts and what is prohibited to purchase. While there are similarities between being used for office supplies and travel expenses, there are variations among enforcement, food and meals, and approval procedures.

Seminole County’s P-Card policies differ from the cities within the county. The maximum credit limit is $25,000, while the single item purchase limit is $1,500. County employees must complete initial training and sign an agreement about the conditions of the county’s purchase policy, according to the county’s administrative code. After, employees must attend an annual training, and can lose access to the card if it is not completed.

“Seminole County does not oversee the budgets or financial practices of local municipalities,” Chris Patton wrote in an email to OCN.

The City of Oviedo allows for P-Cards to be used for hotel stays and parking accommodations that are approved in the annual budget each year. Unlike Winter Springs, there is no radius limitation for how far from the city a staffer or official must be before the city reimburses them for a hotel stay. Four Oviedo City Council members attended the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference, August 14-16, using city cards to pay for lodging. City records show that no city officials have had to repay the city for any inappropriate expenses since 2024.

The City of Longwood does not give P-Cards to city commissioners. The City Clerk handles expenses for City Commissioners, such as memberships, donations, etc. According to Longwood’s policy, “Purchasing cards are assigned a per transaction dollar limit of $2,000 with higher levels for certain operations as deemed appropriate. Monthly dollar limits are also established, typically $5,000 with higher levels as deemed appropriate.”

Similar to Longwood, Lake Mary does not give P-Cards to city commissioners. The city clerk’s office or city manager’s assistant handles purchases on their behalf, according to the city’s financial procedures.

While Altamonte Springs’ procurement system is visible online, its P-card policies do not seem to be available on its website. A spokesperson did not respond before the time of publication.

In Sanford, P-Cards are only issued to designated employees on an individual basis, according to city policy. Sanford’s P-Card policies mirror the same rules as purchase orders regarding approvals and documentation. The maximum transaction limit is $2,500 per purchase — $500 higher than Longwood. The city’s policy does state that documentation and training is provided to P-Card users  “to ensure that P-cards are used only for authorized purposes and in accordance with procurement policy, directives and procedures of the City.”

OCN reached out to Casselberry, but they did not respond by the time of publication.

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