Weitzman contacts thousands of County vendors to offer efficient, speedy electronic payments

New policy promotes use of Automated Clearing House network to save time, money and paper

Thousands of emails went out this week from County Comptroller Howard Weitzman to County vendors, offering them the option to be paid by an electronic payment process that uses an Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, instead of a paper check. The ACH process allows the County to make payments within the banking system and eliminates the need to print and mail checks, thereby, reducing billing costs, boosting efficiency, and cutting back on paper use. The Comptroller’s Office has been working together with the County’s Information Technology Department and the Treasurer’s Department on the project.

"Nassau County is now joining the millions of individuals and companies that pay their bills electronically,” said Weitzman. “Paying our vendors just got easier and more efficient. In addition, the vendors will be able to access their payments quickly without having to physically bring a check to the bank and wait for it to clear. The County saves money on postage and paper.”

Earlier this year the Comptroller’s Office offered the new payment method to social services vendors and utilities, including Family and Children's Association and the Long Island Power Authority, as a test cases, and is now expanding the program by offering it to all County vendors. The Comptroller’s Office this week reached out through email to approximately 2,200 vendors who have been registered and paid by the County’s procurement system over the past two years.

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) was one of the first County vendors to be converted over to the automated billing and payment system, according to Weitzman.

"This type of progressive thinking creates a mutual benefit for Nassau County and all of its vendors by making both payments and reimbursements quicker and more efficient," said Bruce Germano, Vice President of Retail Services for the Long Island Power Authority.

The County currently has 38,000 active vendors. Other municipalities that already use ACH payments include New York City and Westchester County. For more information or to secure forms, visit hhttp://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html, or call 516-571-3241 or email comptrollerclaims@nassaucountyny.gov