CORRECTION: Due to an error, a previous version of this press release issued on June 22 incorrectly stated that a former Village of Wellsville mayor was responsible for a $109 alcohol purchase. A corrected version is below.

Columbus – Two former Village of Wellsville (Columbiana County) fiscal officers racked up more than $19,000 in penalties and interest by failing to make payments on time during 2014 and 2015.

An audit of the cash-strapped village released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost also discovered $109 in alcohol purchases.

“You don’t pile on more weight when the ship is already taking on water,” Auditor Yost said. “The village has to eliminate all wasteful spending if it hopes to stay afloat in its treacherous financial waters.” 

Auditors determined that former Fiscal Officers Donna Rudder and Cassandra Bloor did not always submit employee tax and pension withholdings on time to the IRS, Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and Ohio Police and Fire Retirement System.   

As a result, the village was assessed and paid $9,067 in penalties and interest during Rudder’s tenure as fiscal officer, in addition to $10,000 while Bloor held the position. Auditors issued findings for recovery against the individuals in the respective amounts.

An additional finding for recovery was issued against Bloor after auditors identified a $109 alcohol purchases made during a 2014 employee Christmas dinner at Abdalla's Steak House.  

Auditor Yost placed the village in a state of fiscal emergency for its third time on Nov. 15, 2016, the most for any local government since the designation was created in 1979. The declaration was made after the Auditor’s Local Government Services Section (LGS) identified deficit fund balances totaling $93,021 and $28,710 as of Dec. 31, 2015, and May 31, 2016, respectively.

A full copy of this report is available online.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies.  Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.

Contact:
Beth Gianforcaro
Press Secretary
614-644-1111