The year is nearly halfway over, and the city’s payroll problems seem to be no closer to being resolved.
Issues with sick and personal leave, as well as state, federal and retirement withholdings have been reported by department heads and employees since January 1.
Public Works Office Manager Ruthy Hamilton vented to the mayor and board during another lengthy discussion about the city’s Delta software system.
“Some of us, they are not taking state tax out,” Hamilton said. “They are not taking federal tax out. These employees have filled out W-4s four or five times. Still, no taxes have been taken out.”
Hamilton continued, “Somebody has to come from somewhere and get them right, because at the end of the year, the majority of us are going to have to pay taxes. The city’s not going to pay our taxes, and that means that if you go and straighten it out, you’re going to take half of our money. Every time we come, they say, ‘We’re working. We’re working.’ How long is it going to have to take to get it straight? Can somebody answer that?”
Mayor Ken Featherstone responded that there is an attempt to move away from the Delta software system, which he and others, including City Clerk Angela Goodwin, say is the culprit.
“Excuse me, mayor, but we have not had a problem with Delta in the past,” Hamilton responded. “June 4, I will be with the city for 23 years. We’ve never had a problem with payroll, ever… Enough is enough. When you get tired, you get tired, and you’re dealing with our money, which is not right, and every time we ask somebody, ‘We’re working on it, we’re working on it.’”
Ward 3 Alderman Ruben Woods isn’t buying the explanation either that Delta is causing payroll and other issues at city hall.
He suggested sending new Human Resources Clerk Tammy Simmons to the county to shadow the payroll clerk there. The county uses Delta as well.
“The majority of the people (in government) use Delta,” Woods said. “Nobody has a problem but us.”
Hamilton said there are employees in her department who want to take vacation time this summer, but they do not have an accurate accounting of how much leave time they have accrued.
Parks and Recreation Director Carolyn O’Neal told the board that she received two reimbursements on her last check, with no explanation for where they originated.
Hamilton said that she and her colleagues need answers quickly, because major corrections to withholdings at this point in the year might require more money being taken out of checks than usual.
Otherwise, she said, employees may end up with a tax bill at the end of the year.
“When we come, we can’t get an answer,” she said. “It’s not fair. We have to come to work every day.”
Goodwin assured Hamilton that she would begin working on a solution.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi suggested reaching out to retired HR Clerk Cheryl Thomas to see if the city could contract with her to do training on payroll and Delta.
No action was taken by the board.
