Cell Phone Cutback Could Save $50,000 Says County Auditor

McHenry County has too many cell phones, according to a report submitted to the County Board's Finance and Audit Committee Tuesday by County Auditor Pam Palmer. Cutting them back could save about $50,000 each year she said.

The problem Palmer said, is that the county doesn't have any formal policy on who needs a cell phone or where to get cell service for those who do.  According to her audit there's a cellphone for roughly one out of every four county employees and they're spread over 22 different providers and plans.  "Some of these have bells and whistles we don't need," she said.

In fact, she said, some phones aren't even being used. Palmer identified one phone used for only three minutes one month and none the next two months. "There are a a lot of phones and a lot of bills which we don't need," she said.

Palmer suggested it might make more sense in some instances to reimburse an employee for an occasional county business call on his personal cell.

County Administrator Pete Austin said he'd get to work on drafting rules for cells.