Timely Payments

Agency staff must establish their internal procedure for issuing compensation before eligible members are invited to participate so that they can be paid in a timely manner. Agency staff from accounting, budget, policy and other involved departments should understand their role in the community compensation process and be prepared to initiate payments as soon as an eligible member begins participation in a workgroup. 

“Timely payments” means that:
● Eligible members are compensated for each individual meeting or activity, and not in a lump sum after the workgroup has completed its goals or after the eligible member’s term has ended (Ex: workgroups with monthly meetings should offer monthly payments, not payments at the end of the project or the 
end of the fiscal year).
● Agencies or third parties are required to issue payments as quickly as is reasonably possible.
● Workgroup leadership or management should communicate to eligible members in advance what the typical payment schedule will be so that eligible members can anticipate when they will receive payment and budget accordingly.