Chapter 4.44
CLAIMS AND WARRANTS*

Sections:

4.44.010    Warrant—Drawing.

4.44.020    Warrant—Numbering—Form.

4.44.030    Warrant—Separate numbering series.

4.44.040    Warrant—Issuance when.

4.44.050    Warrant—Purposes.

4.44.060    Warrant—Liability specification required.

4.44.070    Current expense warrants—Payment.

4.44.080    Payment by check authorized.

4.44.090    Warrant and check signing.

4.44.100    Warrant—Payment procedure.

4.44.110    Warrant—Nonpayment for lack of funds—Interest.

4.44.120    Registered warrants—Payment preference.

4.44.130    Warrant—Drawing interest—Payment readiness notice.

4.44.140    Warrant—Payment readiness—Advertising regulations.

4.44.150    Warrant—Presentation failure—Appropriated funds use.

4.44.160    Warrant—Interest payment record.

4.44.170    Warrant—Presentation of two or more—Special interest warrant.

4.44.180    Warrant—Loss or destruction—Recovery action.

4.44.190    Duplicate warrants—Issuance.

4.44.200    Duplicate warrants—Presentation failure—Voiding.

4.44.210    Warrant—Considered lost when.

4.44.220    Warrant—Loss or destruction—Record.

*    For authorization for district to issue warrants, see Estero MID Act. § 92.

4.44.010 Warrant—Drawing.

The finance officer shall draw warrants upon the funds in the district depositary to pay demands made against the district when the demands have been approved or authorized in open meeting by a majority of the members of the board. (Ord. 32 § 1, 1968: Ord. 6 § 1, 1961)

4.44.020 Warrant—Numbering—Form.

All warrants issued during each fiscal year shall be numbered consecutively. The number, date, amount of each, the name of the person to whom payable and the purpose for which drawn shall be stated thereon. The finance officer shall enter the warrants in his register at the time they are issued. (Ord. 6 § 2, 1961)

4.44.030 Warrant—Separate numbering series.

Separate series of numbers may be used for the different kinds of warrants, such as payroll warrants, general warrants drawn for miscellaneous purposes and special warrants drawn on special funds or for special purposes. (Ord. 6 § 3, 1961)

4.44.040 Warrant—Issuance when.

The finance officer shall issue warrants in payment of all claims chargeable against the district which have been legally examined, allowed and ordered paid by the board. (Ord. 6 § 4, 1961)

4.44.050 Warrant—Purposes.

The finance officer shall issue warrants for the payment of bond principal and interest and salaries when due. When theretofore directed by a majority of the members of the board in open meeting to make such payments when due, the finance officer shall also issue warrants for debts and demands against the district, the amounts of which are fixed by law, ordinance or contract. (Ord. 32 § 2, 1968: Ord. 6 § 5, 1961)

4.44.060 Warrant—Liability specification required.

A warrant shall distinctly specify the liability for which it is drawn. (Ord. 6 § 6, 1961)

4.44.070 Current expense warrants—Payment.

Warrants drawn for current expenses shall be paid in the order of presentation to the depositary. If the fund is insufficient to pay a warrant, it shall be registered and paid in the order of registration. (Ord. 6 § 7, 1961)

4.44.080 Payment by check authorized.

When funds are available for the payment of approved debts and demands, approval as provided in this chapter shall, without the issuance of any warrant, by authority to the finance officer to pay by check, pursuant to Section 53912 of the Government Code. (Ord. 32 § 3, 1968: Ord. 6 § 8, 1961)

4.44.090 Warrant and check signing.

All warrants or checks drawn by the finance officer shall be signed by the president and secretary, or by one of them and one member of the board. (Ord. 32 § 4, 1968: Ord. 6 § 9, 1961)

4.44.100 Warrant—Payment procedure.

When a warrant is presented for payment, if there is money in the fund for that purpose, the finance officer shall pay it and stamp thereon, or perforate therein, the word “paid” and the date paid. (Ord. 6 § 11, 1961)

4.44.110 Warrant—Nonpayment for lack of funds—Interest.

When any warrant properly drawn on any fund in the depositary is presented to the depositary for payment and is not paid for want of funds, the finance officer shall endorse thereon “not paid for want of funds” and the date and time of presentation and sign his name thereto. From that time until paid, the warrant bears interest at six per cent per year. (Ord. 6 § 12, 1961)

4.44.120 Registered warrants—Payment preference.

Registered warrants are entitled to preference as to payment out of the moneys in the depositary properly applicable to such warrants according to the order in which they were presented. Upon receipt of money in the depositary not appropriated, the finance officer shall set apart so much as is necessary for their payment. (Ord. 6 § 13, 1961)

4.44.130 Warrant—Drawing interest—Payment readiness notice.

When there is sufficient money in the depositary applicable thereto to pay the warrants drawing interest, the finance officer shall give notice in a newspaper published in the county stating that he is ready to pay such warrants. From the first publication the warrant ceases to draw interest. Publication shall be not necessary as to warrants which are presented prior to such notice. (Ord. 6 § 14, 1961)

4.44.140 Warrant—Payment readiness—Advertising regulations.

In advertising warrants in a newspaper, the finance officer shall not publish the warrants in detail, but shall give notice only that district warrants presented for payment prior to a date stated in the notice are payable. When a part only of the warrants presented for payment on the same day are payable, the finance officer shall designate the warrants payable in the advertisement. (Ord. 6 § 15, 1961)

4.44.150 Warrant—Presentation failure—Appropriated funds use.

If the warrants are not again presented for payment within sixty days from the time notice provided for in this chapter is given the funds set aside for their payment shall be applied by the finance officer to the payment of unpaid warrants next in order of registry. On application and presentation of warrants properly endorsed which have been advertised, the board may direct the finance officer to pay them out of any money in the depositary not otherwise appropriated. (Ord. 6 § 16, 1961)

4.44.160 Warrant—Interest payment record.

When the finance officer pays any warrant upon which any interest is due, he shall note on the warrant the amount of interest paid and enter on his account the amount of interest distinct from the principal. (Ord. 6 § 17, 1961)

4.44.170 Warrant—Presentation of two or more—Special interest warrant.

As an alternative, when any person presents two or more warrants for payment at the same time which are registered on the same date and drawn against the same fund, the finance officer may file a certified statement giving the warrant numbers, the amounts and the total interest due on the warrants. He shall then issue his special interest warrant against the proper fund for the total sum of interest due on such warrants. The special interest warrant shall bear upon its face substantially the following notation: “This warrant is in full payment of interest due on warrants, as per detailed requisition filed with the Finance Officer.” The interest due on the warrants shall be paid in the same manner as other warrants. (Ord. 6 § 18, 1961)

4.44.180 Warrant—Loss or destruction—Recovery action.

If any warrant issued upon district funds is lost or destroyed before it is paid by the depositary, the amount due may be recovered by the legal owner or custodian of the warrant by filing with the finance officer, prior to the time the warrant becomes void, an affidavit setting forth the fact of the loss or destruction of the warrant, the number, date, amount and name of the payee, and all material facts relative to its loss or destruction. (Ord. 6 § 21, 1961)

4.44.190 Duplicate warrants—Issuance.

Upon filing of the affidavit, the finance officer shall issue and deliver to the legal owner or custodian a duplicate warrant bearing the same date as the original warrant for the full amount of the original warrant and the depositary shall pay the duplicate in lieu of the original. (Ord. 6 § 22, 1961)

4.44.200 Duplicate warrants—Presentation failure—Voiding.

If the duplicate warrant is not presented for payment to the depositary within the time in which the original warrant could have been presented for payment, it is void. (Ord. 6 § 23, 1961)

4.44.210 Warrant—Considered lost when.

A warrant is considered lost if it has been mailed and has not been received by the addressee within twenty days of the date of mailing. (Ord. 6 § 24, 1961)

4.44.220 Warrant—Loss or destruction—Record.

The finance officer shall make the proper entry in his books showing that the warrant is lost or destroyed and that a duplicate warrant has been issued. (Ord. 6 § 25, 1961)