JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY CLERK OF THE COURT AND COMPTROLLER JUAN FERNANDEZ-BARQUIN AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER ROBERTO GONZALEZ:

MIAMI-DADE OFFICIALS LAUNCH PAYROLL AUDIT INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY

MIAMI-DADE – County Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez and Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller Juan Fernandez-Barquin announce a joint effort to move forward with a comprehensive audit of the Miami-Dade County’s payroll systems, reinforcing their shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds. This initiative follows the discovery of payroll overpayments—including those affecting both Clerk Fernandez-Barquin and Commissioner Gonzalez. Upon learning of the discrepancies, both officials promptly returned the funds and expressed their full support for a systemic review.

“As public servants, we must hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity,” said Clerk Fernandez-Barquin. “The recent payroll miscalculations—my own included—underscore the need for a full audit to identify root causes and implement lasting reforms. Our residents deserve accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in how public dollars are managed.”

Commissioner Gonzalez added: “Mistakes in payroll processes—regardless of who is affected—demand swift and transparent corrective action. I’m proud to partner with Clerk Fernandez-Barquin to ensure this audit delivers the accountability our community expects. It is our duty to lead by example and fix the system so that this never happens again.”

The audit, to be conducted by the Clerk in his role as County Comptroller, follows growing concerns regarding inconsistencies in payroll processing across County departments. The payroll audit will examine payroll processing practices across all County departments. It will assess timekeeping accuracy, policy compliance, internal controls, payroll process design, and potential vulnerabilities within the system.

This collaborative effort highlights the importance of intergovernmental cooperation in safeguarding public funds and reflects a unified approach to fiscal responsibility for the residents of this community. The final audit report will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners and made available to the public upon completion.