For Immediate Release:                                                      

July 16, 2019                                                            

$7,203 in Late Payment Penalties Found in Franklin Township Audit

Columbus – Auditor of State Keith Faber released today the Franklin Township audit that contained a finding for recovery of $7,203 against Fiscal Officer Lisa Morris.

“This represents a systematic failure to attend to township matters and exposed taxpayers to significant avoidable and additional expenses,” said Auditor Keith Faber.

Morris was entrusted for remitting the employer portion of retirement contributions and paying workers compensation premiums in a timely manner. The Township paid $5,700 and $600 in 2015 and 2016, respectively, from the General Fund in penalties and interest due to late payments of the employer remittance to the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund. In addition, the Township did not pay 2015 workers compensation coverage between September 2, 2015 and November 1, 2015. As a result, the Township incurred and paid $903 from the Policy Levy Fund for a claim incurred by a Township employee during the period the coverage had lapsed.

For the public monies illegally expended, Auditor Faber issued a finding for recovery against Lisa Morris and her bonding company for $6,300 in favor of the Franklin Township General Fund and $903 in favor of the Franklin Township Police Levy Fund.

A full copy of this audit report is available online.

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