HARTFORD — State agencies must now send monthly reports to the comptroller outlining employee violations of rules for state-issued purchase cards, Comptroller Sean Scanlon directed July 2.
What changes for residents and agencies
The new requirement compels agencies to file detailed accounts of purchase-card policy breaches with the Office of the State Comptroller on a monthly schedule. The first set of reports, covering July activity, is due Aug. 1.
Comptroller Scanlon’s office said the directive is intended to tighten oversight and help the state more closely track improper or unauthorized charges on agency cards. Officials framed the change as an additional accountability measure following high-profile controversies at both state and local levels in Connecticut.
Background on purchase cards and oversight
Purchase cards are commercial credit cards issued to state agencies and employees to buy supplies, services, meals or equipment for official business. The program began as a pilot in 1998 with a $1,000 limit per purchase; that cap rose to $10,000 after a year and was set at $250,000 in 2015.
| Year | Purchase-card limit |
|---|---|
| 1998 (pilot) | $1,000 |
| 1999 | $10,000 |
| 2015–present | $250,000 |
Agency cardholders remain responsible for purchases made with those cards and must follow statewide and agency purchasing manuals. Those policies prohibit personal spending and require receipts for every transaction to verify that purchases are for official use.
Monthly reporting details and related law
The comptroller issued the directive under his statutory authority over purchase-card use. It supplements a 2025 state law that requires agencies to submit annual reports by Aug. 1 detailing policy violations and enforcement actions for the prior fiscal year. That law took effect Oct. 1, 2025; the upcoming Aug. 1 annual submissions will cover the 2026 fiscal year, which ended June 30.
Under the new directive, agencies must now provide monthly updates in addition to the mandated annual report. The Scanlon office said the move will allow closer, more frequent monitoring of potential misuse.
- First monthly reports due to the comptroller: Aug. 1 (covering July)
- Agencies must continue annual reports each Aug. 1 per 2025 law
- Cardholders remain liable for following purchasing procedures and keeping receipts
State officials have framed the change as a step to reduce misuse and increase transparency. The directive arrives amid public scrutiny over government card use, and it places more frequent reporting requirements on agency finance and procurement units.
Comptroller Scanlon’s office and agency finance leaders will oversee implementation. The directive does not change the underlying purchasing rules or the limits on card use; it requires timely disclosure of violations so state officials can identify patterns, pursue corrective actions and inform the public record.
Olivia Ferraro is the Connecticut correspondent for News Block.
