Laura Incalcaterra

lincalca@lohud.com

Rockland legislators want law to require timely bill payments by the county

Rockland Executive Ed Day issues executive order requiring 60-day payments

Legislator Ilan Schoenberger says he'll amend law to allow 60-day payments; he wanted 30-day payments

Schoenberger says if bills don't get paid in timely manner, he'll again seek 30-day requirement

NEW CITY – Legislator Ilan Schoenberger amended his bill-pay resolution to work with the County Executive's Office on the ongoing problem of timely payments to vendors.

Schoenberger, D-Wesley Hills, is a sponsor of the proposed "We Pay Our Bills Timely" law, along with Legislators Aney Paul, D-Nanuet; John Murphy, R-Orangeburg; and Frank Sparaco, R-Valley Cottage.

As things stand, when vouchers, requisitions and purchase orders are submitted, the county can take up to 30 days to approve the paperwork. The county must issue checks within 90 days.

Schoenberger said that due to the fiscal crisis, the county has frequently issued checks without mailing them until well past 90 days — sometimes by several weeks.

He was proposing to have the county pay within 30 days of the paperwork being approved, but said he is now willing to change the requirement to 60 days.

Late Tuesday, just about three hours before the law was to be discussed in committee, County Executive Ed Day issued an executive order requiring payments be paid within 60 days.

"As far as I'm concerned, he recognized the Legislature has taken a leadership role on the issue and was right," Schoenberger said.

He said he is willing to try out the 60-day requirement and that if it doesn't work out, he will again try for the 30-day payment schedule.

All 10 members of the board's Budget and Finance Committee voted Tuesday to approve the amended resolution to require 60-day payments.

Under the proposed law, if the county failed to make timely payments, it would have to fork over additional interest payments at the rate set forth under the state's Civil Practice Law and Rules.

According to the executive order, the county processes about 200,000 vouchers and purchase orders for payment each year for various mandated and non-mandated items.

During Rockland's fiscal crisis, there often hasn't been enough cash on hand to allow timely payments to service providers, contractors, contract agencies, vendors and others.

Some county legislators say that should change now that the county is getting a grip on its finances, with a loan of $107 million as part of the effort to pay down its $125.6 million state-certified deficit.

The loan will put $107 million in cash back on the county's books for operating expenses.

The full Legislature will consider setting a date for a public hearing on the proposed law when it convenes Tuesday. Schoenberger said Wednesday that he expected further discussions on the matter before any vote.

Twitter: @LauraLoHud