7-3-1314. Payment and investigation of claims -- use of warrants. (1) No claim against the municipality shall be paid except by means of a warrant on the treasury issued by the director of finance. The director of finance shall issue no warrant for the payment of a claim unless the claim is evidenced by a voucher approved by the head of the department or office for which the indebtedness was incurred, and each such officer and his surety shall be liable to the municipality for all loss or damage sustained by reason of his negligent or corrupt approval of any claim.
     (2) The director of finance shall examine all payrolls, bills, and other claims and demands against the municipality and shall issue no warrant for payment unless he finds that the claim is in proper form, correctly computed, and duly approved; that it is legally due and payable; and that an appropriation has been made therefor which has not been exhausted. He may investigate any claimant and for that purpose may summon before him any officer, agent, or employee of the municipality or any claimant or other person and examine him upon oath or affirmation relative thereto. If he finds a claim to be fraudulent, erroneous, or otherwise invalid or that the appropriation out of which such claim is payable has been exhausted, he shall not issue a warrant therefor. If the director of finance issues a warrant on the treasury authorizing payment of any claim in contravention of the provisions of this subsection, he and his sureties shall be individually liable to the municipality for the amount of such warrant if paid.

     History: En. Secs. 60, 61, Ch. 121, L. 1923; re-en. Secs. 5520.61, 5520.62, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 11-3501, 11-3502.