Comptroller
Under the supervision of the Comptroller, the department has five offices which provide fiscal support for DPS and six attached agencies. These offices are Accounting, Payroll, Budget, Grants management and Purchasing.
Accounting
The Accounting Section maintains DPS accounting books, and records and provides accounts payable, accounts receivable and revenue collections, general ledger, and payroll functions. The financial statements and compliance activities of the department are examined by the Department of Audits and Accounts in order to express an opinion as to the fair presentation of the financial statements.
Payroll
The Payroll Office is responsible for maintaining the payroll records and processing paycheck exceptions for the Department of Public Safety/Georgia State Patrol and six attached agencies. Payroll is also responsible for verifying that employee salaries, retirement contributions, and that insurances are calculated correctly each pay cycle.
Budget
Our Budget Office develops the department budget request and submits it each September to the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget (OPB). It tracks and defends the budget through hearings with the Governor and OPB, and the House and Senate appropriation committees. Once approved by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor, the budget office prepares the annual operating budget (AOB) for OPB approval and submits subsequent quarterly allotment requests for operating funds. The AOB is monitored through monthly expenditure projections by line items and fund source projections. If necessary, an amended budget request is prepared and submitted and monitored in the same manner as the budget request. Federal and other funds are also amended into the budget throughout the fiscal year.
Grants Management
The Grants Management Office seeks federal funding and makes applications for applicable grant programs. Our primary federal funding sources are through the Criminal Justice and Coordinating Council (CJCC) and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). Funding has covered projects such as seat belt enforcement, citation automation reporting by locals, specialized equipment for Specialized Collision and Reconstruction Teams (SCRT), Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS), and protective vests for Troopers. This office also reviews all outside audits for local government agencies receiving GOHS grant funds. Numerous audits on cities and counties have been reviewed for compliance with GOHS standards and a determination was made concerning any financial settlement.
Purchasing
The Purchasing Section is responsible for coordinating and monitoring all purchasing activity, which includes purchasing office supplies, pursuit vehicles, aircraft, law enforcement items, and establishing specialized contracts. This office also prepares and distributes purchasing procedures and assists departmental personnel with these procedures to ensure that all purchases are within established rules and regulations. This Section is also responsible for maintaining the Purchasing Card Program for the Department.