City finds $3.4 million in uncashed revenue checks

Philadelphia officials say they’ve discovered millions of dollars in uncashed checks from the federal government. Mayor Nutter made the announcement today after receiving a set of new checks totaling $3.4 million dollars.

Philadelphia officials say they’ve discovered millions of dollars in uncashed checks from the federal government. Mayor Nutter made the announcement today after receiving a set of new checks totaling $3.4 million dollars.

Philadelphia’s Inspector General Amy Kurland says an embezzlement investigation led her office to a surprising discovery. Back in 2005, a series of city wage tax payments from the Department of Defense never got deposited. City officials say they’re looking into how so much money could have gone uncollected.

But the federal government made good on the missing checks and issued new ones. Kurland says she’s helping the city’s Revenue Department come up to speed.

“We are continuing to work with the Revenue Department to put some measures in place so this will not happen,” Kurland said. “I understand the Revenue Department is moving to a direct deposit system rather than having checks simply mailed to the city.”

Kurland says her investigation continues, and she says more uncashed checks could surface.

The Office of Inspector General issued its annual report on Thursday. The report says the Inspector General’s anti-corruption efforts have saved the city $4.2 million dollars.