§ 71. Payment of claims.

Payments by the city shall be made only upon vouchers certified in such manner as the council, by ordinance, may prescribe, and by means of warrants on the city treasurer, issued by the director of finance and countersigned by the city treasurer. During such time as the city manager shall act as director of finance such warrants shall be issued by the assistant director of finance or the city controller and countersigned by the city treasurer. The director of finance, or, if the city manager be acting as director of finance, then the assistant director of finance or the city controller shall examine all payrolls, bills and other claims and demands against the city; and shall issue no warrant for payment unless he finds that the claim is in proper form, correctly computed and duly certified; that it is justly and legally due and payable; that an appropriation has been made therefor which has not been exhausted, or that the payment has been otherwise legally authorized; and that there is money in the city treasury to make payment. The city manager, or the assistant director of finance or city controller, as appropriate pursuant to this section, may require any claimant to make oath to the validity of a claim; may investigate any claim, and for such purposes may examine any witnesses under oath; and if such claim be found fraudulent, erroneous or otherwise invalid, shall not issue a warrant therefor.

(Acts 1926, Ch. 289; Acts 1958, Ch. 115; Acts 2000, Ch. 950, § 1)

(Acts 1926, Ch. 289; Acts 1958, Ch. 115; Acts 2000, Ch. 950, § 1)