MERCED, CA – Merced County is tightening up its policies for top employees after the State Office of Emergency Services concluded that District Attorney Gordon Spencer violated terms of a state grant, according to KFSN TV. Spencer was driving a county vehicle intended for someone else, but was collecting allowance for using his personal vehicle. The Merced County Board of Supervisors voted to implement the stricter policies for all elected and appointed employees in the county. All top-level employees are now required to sign a form that says they can use county equipment or get reimbursed for using their own, but not both. Under the new policy, an outside auditing firm will annually review financial declaration sheets submitted by all elected and appointed officials, the report said. The board unanimously approved the new policy, which also makes annual ethics training mandatory. The Attorney General’s Office is investigating Spencer’s misuse of the county vehicle. Results of their investigation are pending.