Sheehan Press Release 0807 (2)-dinapoli

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Kathy Sheehan, Democratic Candidate for Albany City Treasurer 518/441-6122 [email protected] / www.sheehan2009.com

Decade’s Old Deficiencies Still Exist in Barnette’s Office August 7, 2009 -- Today State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released his audit of Albany’s “NoFine” parking tickets. Among his findings, the Comptroller found significant deficiencies in the City’s process for canceling outstanding parking tickets. The failure of the Treasurer’s Office to institute written controls “invites abuse of the City’s enforcement process and can result in unnecessary loss of ticket revenue,” according to the audit. “This finding is particularly troubling in light of the fact that the State Comptroller told Treasurer Betty Barnette, in 1997 to adopt a comprehensive written policy addressing parking ticket cancellation. Had the Treasurer acted on this 12 years ago, much of the criticism in today’s audit may have been avoided”, said Kathy Sheehan, Democratic candidate for City Treasurer. Barnette, has been in office for 18 years. She continues to deny that she knew about “No-Fine” tickets, even though the Common Council found that “No-Fine” tickets were issued to her vehicle. According to the audit, tens of thousands of tickets were canceled. Of those examined by the auditors, more than half had no stated reason for the cancellation. The State Comptroller also found that controls over the city’s information technology systems, part of which fall under the Treasurer’s responsibilities, “were so lacking that neither DiNapoli’s auditors nor the city could be sure that city parking ticket data was complete and accurate.” According to Sheehan, “The lack of written policies and management controls leave the city open to continued abuse. With the city facing a rising deficit, we simply cannot afford this risk. City taxpayers have a right to expect competence and accountability in their elected officials. Throughout my career I have demonstrated my ability to develop and implement regulatory policy for employees and financial systems. I will provide that same accountability to the residents of Albany as their City Treasurer.” ###