UPDATE: City Didn't Meet Payroll: Mount Vernon Mayor

UPDATE: Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas called for the city to automate its payroll systems after a Friday report that there were insufficient funds in the payroll accounts. Thomas said the New York State Comptroller has criticized the city's payroll processing system.

His statement:

On Friday, it was brought to the attention of the Office of the Mayor that many of Mount Vernon's hard working employees were unable to cash their checks due to insufficient funds in the city's payroll accounts. The Thomas administration is working with the bank to ensure all employees are able to access their paychecks. The administration is working with the Comptroller's office and encouraging Comptroller Maureen Walker to move to an electronic, modern payroll system so a situation like this does not happen again. Manual input systems are susceptible to human error.
In February of 2015, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a deeply critical audit of the Comptroller's payroll processing system. New York State found that some workers were being overpaid, some were being underpaid, and there was no uniform method of tracking payroll. Some workers were paid on days when they weren't even at work.
It's been over two years since New York State delivered its request that the Comptroller's office automate payroll and it's time for the city to modernize its systems. Our firefighters, police officers, and public works employees work day-in and day-out for the people of Mount Vernon. They expect, and deserve, prompt compensation. As the city expands its partnerships with Microsoft, Mercy College, and other technological innovators, we will seek to have payroll moved to a modern system as well.

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mayor Richard Thomas sent this message to Mount Vernon City Hall Employees Friday morning:

The Office of the Mayor has been informed that an unknown number of city employees have been unable to paychecks due to insufficient funds in the city's payroll account. Mayor Thomas takes this matter very seriously. The Office is investigating the situation to determine how this error occurred.

Mayor Thomas appreciates and respects the hard work you do for the City of Mount Vernon. Payroll accounting errors are unacceptable, particularly in advance of a holiday weekend. If you are experiencing problems with payroll, please contact your department head or commissioner immediately.

Mayor Richard Thomas was just informed that an unknown number of city employees cannot cash their checks due to insufficient funds. The Office Mayor is investigating this serious matter as many hard working families are seeking their hard earned dollars ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.
A post shared by Richard Thomas (@richwthomas) on May 26, 2017 at 7:14am PDT