Cheektowaga, NY — Erie County Comptroller candidate Christine Czarnik today announced her ''Prompt Payment Plan", a reform agenda aimed at preventing the County from failing to pay vendors on time—a failure she says current to which Comptroller Kevin Hardwick is guilty.

 

“When the County can’t pay its bills on time, everyone suffers—especially local businesses and taxpayers,” Czarnik said. “Kevin Hardwick let one of the largest retailers in America suspend our purchasing accounts because he couldn’t manage the basics. That’s not just embarrassing. It’s dangerous.”

 

Last year, Home Depot—citing months of unpaid invoices—briefly suspended all Erie County purchasing accounts. Czarnik warned that similar failures could cripple the county’s emergency response capacity in future crises, such as snowstorms or natural disasters.

 

Czarnik is proposing a common-sense plan that guarantees prompt, transparent, and professional payments for all county obligations:

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1. 30-Day Payment Promise

All complete and accurate invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt.

 

2. Digital Payments Push

Expand use of electronic payments (EFT and ACH) for faster, more secure transactions, with annual outreach to help vendors enroll.

 

3. Quarterly Transparency Reports

Public reports will be released every quarter to identify invoice delays, track agency performance, and root out inter-departmental inefficiencies.

 

“When the government doesn’t pay its bills on time, it’s taxpayers and local business owners who suffer. As your next Comptroller, I will clean up any backlog, modernize our systems, and make sure Erie County honors its commitments. It’s time to expect professionalism—not politics—in the Comptroller’s Office.” Czarnik concluded.