Union and residents tell Wayne County commission Oracle payroll system is causing pay and benefits errors

Two public commenters told the Wayne County Commission on March 6 that the county's rollout of Oracle for payroll and HR functions has produced recurring errors affecting employee pay, benefits and tax documents.

Scott Wizerkowski, identified in public comment as a Local 1862 union officer, told commissioners the county has "spent millions and millions of dollars on something that does not work correctly," and said members have received incorrect paychecks, incorrect beneficiary designations, insurance cancellations and incorrect W-2 forms.

Yolanda Shepherd, a public commenter, echoed those concerns and asked what the county will do if employees receive incorrect W-2 forms before the April 15 tax filing deadline. Shepherd noted the county had reportedly stated it would pay for "any amendments within reason," and asked whether the county would assume penalties that employees might face if tax forms are not corrected in time. Shepherd also described training shortfalls for Oracle, saying trainers would "click here, click here, click here" and that staff had been promised training manuals only "after Oracle is implemented." Shepard said payroll reconciliation has not been completed since Oracle was implemented.

A county representative responded from the dais that the administration is "actively working with the administration to fix those issues related to Oracle." The transcript excerpt does not include a detailed county response on whether the county will assume tax penalties for individual employees.

Ending: Public commenters asked for repair of payroll and benefits errors, access to training materials, and clarity about the county's plans to resolve potential tax and penalty liabilities; county staff said they are working on fixes but did not provide a detailed timetable in the available transcript.