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Comptroller urges standardized contracts after audit of police extra-duty pay and accounts receivable
Summary
The city comptroller reported an audit of police extra-duty uniform services, finding 12 customers on accounts receivable and recommending standardized written agreements, more frequent AR reviews and a follow-up meeting with police administration, the FOP, the controllers office and the solicitor.
The Allentown comptroller reported an audit of the police departments extra-duty uniform services on the councils meeting agenda, saying 12 customers appeared in the accounts receivable as of April 1, 2025, and that several longstanding balances date back years.
The comptroller recommended stronger controls: more frequent review of accounts receivable, standardized written agreements that specify rates, payment terms and late-payment penalties, and solicitor review to protect the citys interests. "Our recommendation is that the police administration should review the accounts receivable on a more frequent basis, and a process should be established by the police and administration to review those accounts," the comptroller said.
The audit team reviewed 29 agreements governing extra-duty services and flagged inconsistent contract language and missing mayoral signatures on some agreements, noting that the city can be exposed if a private employer later disputes coverage or payment. The report said four customers could be written off as uncollectible and that last activity on some accounts ranged from 2009 to 2020.
Councilmembers pressed for practical fixes. One member asked whether large recurring users, such as the school district, were current on payments; the comptroller said those balances remained subject to follow-up and that staff had not yet processed all accounts in the review. Another councilmember suggested including late-payment terms where permitted by ordinance to protect taxpayers.
The comptroller said administration and police agreed that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled with police administration, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the controllers office and the solicitor to develop a standardized approach. The council requested a status update in roughly two months.
Next steps: the council expects staff to convene the recommended meeting, standardize contract language for extra-duty services, and return with an implementation timeline and any proposed ordinance language needed to authorize late fees or similar remedies.
