BEDFORD -- The Bedford County Board of Supervisors on Monday evening implemented a policy to provide accountability when it comes to the accounting practices of outside agencies the county supports financially.

The board voted 5-2 to adopt a policy requiring a set of "agreed-upon procedures" to be met for organizations seeking county dollars, including volunteer fire and rescue companies, recreation leagues and nonprofit organizations.

Supervisors Roger Cheek and Dale Wheeler voted against the policy.

The impetus for monitoring the public funds was the March arrest of Jeffrey Shifflett, former volunteer chief of Hardy Volunteer Fire Company, who is accused of mismanaging the department's funds. Shifflett has been charged with felony forgery and is accused of using the fire department's credit cards and checking account for his own benefit.

Shifflett's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Bedford County General District Court.

Supervisor Steve Arrington said if accountability measures had been in place, the alleged incident may not have taken place.

"We just feel like with taxpayer dollars we need to have some tools in place we can hold people accountable," Supervisor Annie Pollard said.

The board earlier this year discussed requiring complete audits of volunteer fire and rescue companies but was deterred by the expense of such financial controls for the more than 20 volunteer companies in the county.

Around the Roanoke region, there is no uniform auditing method for counties regarding public funds allocated to volunteer fire and rescue companies. Roanoke County requires and funds full audits for its 16 volunteer companies. Salem does the same for its single volunteer rescue squad.

Botetourt County retains a third-party accounting firm to disburse public funds on behalf of the volunteer companies, in addition to encouraging audits. Angie Hill, director of finance in Montgomery County, said there are no auditing requirements for volunteer fire and rescue companies there.