Mayor Walsh Releases External Audit Commissioned by Common Council
Published on June 12, 2025
Council also asked Bonadio & Co. and FoxPointe Solutions to review elements of Payroll Modernization
Bonadio/FoxPointe provided draft report to Council and Mayor on Wednesday
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh released the draft “Operational Assessment of City Software Applications” by external consultants commissioned the Syracuse Common Council. The Council also requested the consultants, Bonadio & Co., LLP and FoxPointe Solutions, LLC, to review certain elements of the City’s Payroll Modernization project.
The Bonadio/FoxPointe consultants delivered a draft assessment to the Common Council and the Mayor on Wednesday afternoon. The consultants redacted a portion of appendices that itemize software tools to address cybersecurity and legal concerns associated with disclosure.
“Although my office didn’t commission the report and had no role in the scope of work, I welcomed this outside review. Given the release of portions of the report today already by Council in a public meeting, I am releasing the report now in the interest of transparency,” Mayor Walsh said.
According to the report, “the City’s software applications, though significant in number, in total, are likely not outsized considering the City’s population and operations, especially considering it maintains its own public safety departments. The City has annual subscriptions or fees for approximately 100 applications, which is expected of a city of its size, and we largely found that each department utilizes the applications it has procured effectively.” The consultants did find “unrealized crossover potential” for use of software by multiple departments. They recommended a cost benefit analysis to determine “if more cost-effective options are prudent.” They identified “potential savings” subject to further analysis of up to $328,000 of the City’s $2 million total software budget.
Regarding Payroll Modernization, the Bonadio/FoxPointe consultants said, “it was requested we discuss elements of the Payroll Modernization Project with current and former City employees, mainly, the procurement process and project deliverables.” The report found, “the use of the waiver process during the…Project, though unusual, does not violate the City’s procurement procedures according to interviews performed with City employees and our review of the procurement manual.” It also noted that “while the Common Council did ask questions during each meeting discussing funding, they at no time during the project rejected the Administration’s request for additional funding.”
Regarding deliverables by project consultant EY, the report said, “in our conversations with City employees, we found uniform concern that a portion of the services and deliverables listed in the scope of work may not have been received by the City.” The Bonadio/FoxPointe consultants “recommend the City perform a review of EY’s scope of work, invoices paid and outstanding, and related deliverables received by the City.” The City discontinued its engagement with EY in January and has already committed to completing a review of services and expenses as it analyzes invoices.
“Regarding Payroll Modernization, the review supports what I have said all along: this project has been difficult and suffered frustrating delays and cost increases. It has made significant progress and is moving forward. Consistent with the investigation by our Corporation Counsel, it found no violation of City procurement requirements,” Walsh said.
“Its recommendation of a review of EY’s scope of work compared to deliverables as we analyze invoices is a step we have already commenced. Regarding software and IT operations, I think it is important to note that the report found our platforms were as to be expected for a city of our size and supports ongoing strategic investment. To that end, we are either already undertaking the recommendations made or will pursue them going forward,” Walsh said.
Read Draft Audit Here(PDF, 2MB)