IS MAUREEN WALKER RAIDING THE CITY'S SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT?

Word has it that Mount Vernon Comptroller Maureen Walker has requested that the City Council pass legislation which apparently raids the city's Social Security account in order to transfer money from that account into the line item to restore the position of Chief Accountant to her office. This position was unfunded in the 2010 budget in order to cut costs and provide some tax relief to residents. The Comptroller's Office already had an army of accountants and seven, yes 7, employees earning over $100,000 per year. However, Comptroller Walker is trying yet another in the dark, last minute attempt to try and sneak legislation past the taxpayers with an impending storm and what is likely to be a sparsely attended City Council meeting tomorrow night. Will her blind mice (Edwards, Watts, Appuza and Munro) allow this travesty?

How can someone who claims to be a financial watchdog try to pull such a risky and seemingly illegal move? As an employer, the city is required to pay social security withholding payments to the Social Security Administration. These payments go towards providing a safe and secure retirement for employees. It seems as if the desperate Comptroller, in trying to find any way possible to restore her Chief Accountant, is willing to risk the financial status of the city. She's probably hoping to transfer this money back into the social security line item later in the year, when she assumes that the money will be available. However, in an era with declining revenues and state aid already being cut to municipalities, that money is not likely to be there when she expects it to be. This shell game must not be allowed to go through.

City Council members, it is time to cut the cord and stand up against Queen Maureen.

Mount Vernonites, it is time to stop the Comptroller and her risky management of the city's finances. Shine a light on these shenanigans and forward this email to friends and family. Call or write the City Council members or attend the city council meetings and demand that this nonsense stop.