The Bureau claims that the District owed more than $22 million in back payments, whereas the Department of Corrections asserts that billing errors exist which require resolution before payment is tendered. Neither party has had a strong incentive to resolve the problem, since the District would prefer to defer payment and the Bureau would have to conduct the work necessary to collect the money but would not receive it. Any sums recovered would simply go to the general U.S. treasury. According to a speaker from the General Accounting Office, the billing problems result from both arithmetic errors and disparities between the records of the District and of Federal agencies. The GAO recommends that the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Attorney General set a timetable for resolving the disputed charges and outstanding debts. It also recommends the drafting of legislation to authorize the Bureau of Prisons to use the reimbursements to offset the operating expenses for housing District prisoners. The procedure suggested by an official of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections presented for resolving this and future disputes regarding reimbursement is also presented.