Howard County (Map, News) - Howard County Sheriff Jim Fitzgerald charged more than $27,300 on his county credit card this past year for office expenses ranging from meals and hotel rooms to guns and uniforms.

Expenses less than $1,000 can go on the credit card, where the larger purchases go through the county’s purchasing department for approval, Fitzgerald said.

“It has to be work related or what have you,” he said.

The 2007 charges cover equipment, such as more than $7,000 in cell phone costs and hundreds of dollars to Creative Impressions for framed art for the sheriff’s office, according to credit card statements obtained by The Examiner.

Another $1,800 was spent in December 2006 for the sheriff’s swearing in reception.

For example, in April, Fitzgerald spent $1,000 at Next Day Blinds for new carpets and paint for the office, he said, which helped “make it more acceptable.”

Fitzgerald said he stays within his budget, which is approved each year by the County Council.

The sheriff is an elected position but receives county funding. The fiscal 2008 budget included $5.9 million for the sheriff’s office.

Although the sheriff is elected, each sheriff is subject to the jurisdiction’s budget controls, said Mike Canning, executive director of the Maryland Sheriff’s Association.

“The bottom line is the office of the sheriff is accountable to the county and the public,” he said.

County Executive Ken Ulman said county budget officials are discussing the expenses with the sheriff’s office.

Many charges appear to be appropriate for the office operations, but there may be a better to pay for them than on the credit card, he said.

“We will take a look at all these issues in the context of the budget and work through them [and] see if there is a better way to work through some of these expenses,” Ulman said.

“There’s a long-standing tradition in county government that constitutionally elected officers have been given some discretion in how they spend their money and get their jobs done,” he said, adding he has questions about the expenses.

The county auditor reviews each department annually, but the review of the sheriff’s office is limited to cash receipts from warrants and court orders. Other financial information would be included in the overall annual county government audit, officials said.

Some council members said all expenditures are a concern, and expenses are a part of the budget discussions.

“We all should ensure that our resources are spent wisely and responsibly,” said Councilman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, who had not seen the details of the sheriff’s expenses.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Some of Sheriff James Fitzgerald’s 2007 charges:

April 18 - Next Day Blinds, Maryland - $1,000

May 16 - The Gun Shop, New Jersey - $929

May 22 - The Gun Shop, New Jersey - $900

June 4 - Red the Uniform Tailor, New Jersey - $985

Aug. 18 - Micky Fins in Ocean City - $58.20

Nov. 11 - Creative Impressions art dealer, Rehoboth, Del. - $529

Source: Howard County government

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com