The village of Herkimer is already addressing fiscal mismanagement issues pointed out by a state comptroller’s audit of the village’s payroll department released on July 31, according to a statement released by the village.
The audit by the office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli highlighted a number of issues in the payroll department that could lead to incorrect payments, many of them having to do with records keeping.
Here are some of the findings:
The village statement blamed the last administration for widespread record-keeping failure and a backlog of financial reports. Mayor Dana Sherry has been working to “build trust, restore transparency and modernize the village’s financial operations,” the statement said.
“The village was left in a state of financial disarray,” Sherry said in the statement. “When I assumed office, key financial records were missing; reports had not been filed to the comptroller’s for three years; and internal accountability was virtually nonexistent. Our team immediately began correcting these issues.”
Village actions
Here are some of the actions taken by the village, according to the statement:
“This situation cannot be repeated,” Sherry said in the statement. “We are implementing checks and standards to ensure that future leadership meets the responsibility the people of Herkimer deserve.”
The village’s statement also included a plea to the state for greater support from state agencies, especially when it comes to the financial burden of police and fire contracts.
“This administration is committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility and restoring faith in local government,” Sherry added in the statement. “The hard work is paying off and we have finally moved Herkimer’s business practices forward into the 21st century.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Here’s how Herkimer village officials are addressing fiscal concerns raised by comptroller
Reporting by Amy Neff Roth, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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