Sec. 11. (a) The treasurer of the board is the official custodian of all funds and assets of the board and is responsible for their safeguarding and accounting. The treasurer shall give bond for the faithful performance and discharge of all duties required of the treasurer by law in the amount and with surety and other conditions that may be prescribed and approved by the board. All funds and assets in the capital improvement fund and the capital improvement bond fund created by this chapter and all other funds, assets, and tax revenues held, collected, or received by the county treasurer for the use of the board shall be promptly remitted and paid over by the county treasurer to the treasurer of the board, who shall issue receipts for them.

     (b) The treasurer of the board shall deposit all money coming into the treasurer of the board’s hands as required by this chapter and IC 6-7-1-30.1, and in accordance with general statutes relating to the deposit of public funds. Money so deposited may be invested and reinvested by the treasurer in accordance with IC 5-13 and in securities that the board specifically directs. All interest and other income earned on investments becomes a part of the particular fund from which the money was invested. All funds invested and fully safeguarded and secured as provided in IC 5-13-9 are exempt from assessments under IC 5-13-12.

     (c) The board shall appoint a controller to act as the auditor and assistant treasurer of the board. The controller shall serve as the official custodian of all books of account and other financial records of the board and has the same powers and duties as the treasurer of the board or the lesser powers and duties that the board prescribes. The controller, and any other employee or member of the board authorized to receive, collect, or expend money, shall give bond for the faithful performance and discharge of all duties required of the controller, employee, or member in the amount and with surety and other conditions that may be prescribed and approved by the board. The controller shall keep an accurate account of all money due the board and of all money received, invested, and disbursed in accordance with generally recognized governmental accounting principles and procedure. All accounting forms and records shall be prescribed or approved by the state board of accounts.

     (d) The controller shall issue all warrants for the payment of money from the funds of the board in accordance with procedures prescribed by the board, but a warrant may not be issued for the payment of a claim until an itemized and verified statement of the claim has been filed with the controller, who may require evidence that all amounts claimed are justly due. All warrants shall be countersigned by the treasurer of the board or by the executive manager. Payroll and similar warrants may be executed with facsimile signatures.

     (e) If there are bonds outstanding issued under this chapter, the controller shall deposit with the paying agent or officer within a reasonable period before the date that any principal or interest becomes due sufficient money for the payment of the principal and interest on the due dates.

     (f) At least annually the controller shall submit to the board a report of the controller’s accounts exhibiting the revenues, receipts, and disbursements and the sources from which the revenues and receipts were derived and the purpose and manner in which they were disbursed. The board may require that the report be prepared by an independent certified public accountant designated by the board. The handling and expenditure of funds is subject to audit and supervision by the state board of accounts.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.218, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.19-1987, SEC.56; P.L.127-2017, SEC.388.