Money for technology upgrades was put into general fund.
Montgomery County's controller announced Thursday her office has concluded its investigation into why $785,000 intended to pay for technology upgrades was moved into the county general fund last year and has asked that the money be returned.
Controller Diane Morgan said the office ''matched up all the invoices to payments.''
''There is no missing funds,'' Morgan said.
But she requested, at the direction of the office's solicitor, that the funds be returned to the discretionary accounts set up by the clerk of courts and prothonotary offices.
''It is illegal for us to keep it in the general fund,'' Morgan said.
When she took office in January, Morgan, a Democrat, discovered the prothonotary removed $585,000 from its discretionary account into the county general fund.
The clerk of courts also moved $200,000 from its account, which also was set up for technology upgrades, into the general fund.
Both row officers made the moves a few weeks before Democrats were scheduled to take over the positions.
Morgan began investigating the fund transfer after she couldn't find a contract or an invoice to explain it.
Republican county Commissioners Chairman Jim Matthews and Democratic Commissioner Joe Hoeffel agreed to return the money, but commissioners put off voting on the matter because Commissioner Bruce Castor wanted to learn why the solicitor recommended the funds be returned.
''It is appropriate to put the funds back in the automation fund,'' county solicitor Barry Miller said.
Castor said he wanted to review the statutes that led to their conclusion.
The funds set up by court clerk and prothonotary is generated from fees charged by their offices. The funds are to be used to enhance automation or technology in those departments.
Melissa Busch is a freelance writer
For another point of view on this, check out the story in The Evening Bulletin
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