Troy comptroller resigns ahead of budget season
More questions have been raised around Troy's finances after the city's comptroller stepped down. Some city council members shared concerns after the first quarter financial report came late and the presentation was incomplete.
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – More questions have been raised around Troy's finances after the city's comptroller stepped down. Some city council members shared concerns after the first quarter financial report came late and the presentation was incomplete.
City leaders question the accuracy of the report and shared concerns as the city heads into budget season.
Troy Comptroller Dylan Spring was hired in February. He abruptly left a finance meeting, on Thursday June 20, while he was presenting the first quarter report to the city council.
After that meeting, Spring did not show up to work the following day, Friday, or Monday. He did show up on June 25, but that was to put in his two-week notice.
On Tuesday night, Mayor Carmella Mantello announced his resignation to the public.
“Following the events that transpired at the last city council meeting, our city comptroller has resigned,” said Mantello. She said Troy is in good financial standing. “We continue to have routine meetings with our outside counsels, financial advisors, and can confidently state that the city is standing on fiscally solid ground.”
Council Majority Leader Thomas Casey, reiterated that message. He said they have been briefed, by not only members of the administration, but also the past comptroller and a representative from ProNexus – the consulting firm that was tapped to assist the comptroller’s office.
“And they have all said the money is in the accounts. It may not have all been in the same accounting software, so it may not reflect it, but there is no missing money and we are on firm financial footing. They’ve said this numerous times.”
Both Mantello and Casey said Spring was in the middle of consolidating records from several different softwares into one. And that added to the pressures of his job. Spring was taking on that massive task, Casey said, on top of his daily accounting duties.
However, that answer wasn’t sufficient for all. City council president Sue Steele is still concerned.
“I’m hoping we are on good financial footing. Without reports that are on time and accurate and explainable, I don’t know,” said Steele. ”I don't want to be an alarmist in any way, but I want to be a realist and we need accurate information and that’s all we were asking for.”
The next city council finance meeting is scheduled for July 11 – with the hope there will be more organized budget information to review.
“We are in a critical stage for the city so absolutely I am concerned,” said Steele. “I really don’t know where we stand on getting the information we were expecting,” said Steele.
According to the city charter, the mayor is to notify the head of each department of the city budget format and the information required in it by July 1. It is unclear if that has happened yet or if a full presentation of the first quarter report will take place.
Again, Troy is looking for comptroller applicants. Spring’s last day is on Tuesday. The mayor said they have received some interest in the position already, but urges candidates to apply.