§ 26-35-602 - Tax money to be kept in separate account.
26-35-602. Tax money to be kept in separate account.
(a) (1) The Director of the Division of Local Affairs and Audits of the Division of Legislative Audit shall require every county collector of taxes to keep any and all tax money collected in a separate account from all other money which the county collector may have in his or her possession.
(2) A county collector shall have no authority to check on this account except in favor of a treasurer or depository to whom he or she is required to pay the money or to himself or herself for commission or salary already earned.
(b) (1) (A) Failure to comply with this section on the part of a county collector shall be a violation and shall render him or her liable to a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
(B) Each day's failure shall be considered a separate offense.
(2) Upon finding that public funds and private funds are being jointly deposited or improperly disbursed under this section, the director shall notify immediately the bondsmen of the offending officer and the public of the violation.