Columbus – Deficit fund balances, treasury deficits and significant past due accounts prompted Auditor of State Dave Yost today to place the Village of Trimble (Athens County) in a state of fiscal emergency. 

“When the former fiscal officer stole $61,000 three years ago, she paralyzed Trimble,” Auditor Yost said. “This office will continue to aggressively work to help the local officials get the village back on its feet.” 

Mayor Douglas Davis requested a fiscal analysis of the village as provided by sections 118.021 and 118.04(A) of the Ohio Revised Code.  After conducting the analysis, the Auditor of State’s office determined that the village had deficit fund balances of $157,513 and $164,146 at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The analysis also confirmed treasury deficits that exceeded one-sixth of treasury receipts by $82,933 and $88,382 at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The analysis also found that accounts payable from the general fund – which were at least thirty days past due at December 31, 2012 and at least sixty days past due as of December 31, 2013 – exceeded available fund balances by $45,163 and $45,329, respectively. 

At the 2010 census, the Village of Trimble’s population was 390. For a Village or Township with a population of less than 1,000, the Auditor of State serves as the financial supervisor and has all the powers and responsibilities of a financial planning and supervision commission.  As such, the Auditor of State’s office will help develop a financial recovery plan for the village and see that it is carried out. 

A village is placed in fiscal emergency if any one of the six conditions described in Section 118.03 of the Ohio Revised Code exists. The six conditions are: 1) default on a debt obligation; 2) failure to make payment of all payroll; 3) an increase in the minimum levy of the village which results in the reduction in the minimum levy of another subdivision; 4) significant past due accounts payable; 5) substantial deficit balances in village funds; and 6) a sizeable deficiency when the village’s treasury balance is compared to the positive cash balances of the village’s funds.

A full copy of this fiscal emergency declaration may be accessed online.

Details of the prior theft in office may be accessed 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 5,800 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:
Carrie Bartunek
Press Secretary
614-644-1111