isn't numeric in substr error

[begood321]

Instead of parsing spreadsheet for value I have decided to check variable value instead. I can't seem to get my value to pass from subroutine to subroutine call as seen below. I get values in logger reports1 but not in logger reports2.

@reports = &getValidTotals();
$logger->write_log("reports2: @reports", "INFO");.
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sub getValidTotals ($$) {
  my $reportGroup = $_[0];
  my $total = $_[1];

  my @reports = qw();
  if ($reportGroup ne "") {
    push(@reports,$reportGroup);
    $logger->write_log("reports1: @reports, total: $total", "INFO");
  }    
    return @reports;
}