b'Ohio Auditor of State2021 Annual ReportOther AccomplishmentsStaRSIn March 2019, Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced his plan to create a program that would encourage public entities to be more open and transparent. Previously, while serving as Ohio Senate President, Auditor Faber worked with the Court of Claims to establish an independent and affordable process for citizens to have their public records complaints heard and determined. To build upon the success achieved with the public record mediation program and further promote more open and transparent government operations, the StaRS public records system was launched in November 2019. The stars ratings were created to acknowledge the accomplishments of those that were meeting Ohios public record and open-meetings laws, and also to recognize those public bodies that were exceeding those legal standards by implementing a number of identified best practices. Since the programs initiation, 4,181 entities have been audited for public records compliance. More than 59% have achieved compliance, meaning they have received, at minimum, a single star rating for meeting Ohios public record laws. This includes 559 local governments, schools, first-responder agencies, and other public bodies that have achieved a four-star ratingthe highest honor.Certificate of TransitionFollowing passage by the Legislature, the Auditors office issued Bulletin 2021-005 regarding the Certificate of Transition by Outgoing Fiscal Officers. The bulletin, which is available on our website, outlines the requirements as adopted in Ohio Rev. Code Section 117.171 for completing the Certificate, provides guidance, and gives an example. The Certificate process was established as an accountability tool to aid in the transition of office and to help ensure the incoming officer has to tools they need to succeed.Increase of 25% in Performance Audits In FY 2021, OPT completed legislatively requested work including a second phase of the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Department of Healths COVID-19 response, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety. This is a 25 percent increase from the previous biennium than statutorily required.Ohio Department of Transportation Ohio Department of Education Ohio Department of HealthOhio Department of Public SafetyEfficientlEffectivelTransparent8'