ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state paid more than $1.9 million in interest for late payments to vendors during the last fiscal year, up almost 40 percent from a year earlier.
DiNapoli says that's a waste of taxpayer dollars.
According to the comptroller's office, the leading agency in interest payments was the Department of Health at $1.3 million, followed by the State University of New York at nearly $110,000 and the Department of Transportation at almost $87,000.
A Health Department spokesman says more than 99 percent of its contracts are paid on time and the agency strives to accomplish that with all its contracts.
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