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Mount Vernon officials are taking a hard look at installing state oversight of the city s finances, a move some label draconian and others see as the only path to fixing what ails the city.
The City Council on Wednesday debated legislation that would install an emergency financial control board. We cannot leave the fiscal health of the city to question any longer, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard told the council. It is going to take us years to get out of this financial mess and I believe we need external assistance and oversight.
She first broached the idea of a control board in January as city officials assailed a budget process made nearly impossible by Comptroller Deborah Reynolds failure to pay bills, provide financial details and accept state and federal funds due the city.