Columbus – Auditor of State Dave Yost presented Taxpayer Hero Awards to three communities on Monday in recognition of their successful collaboration at the Southwest Summit Communications Center.

“These taxpayer heroes found a way to boost the quality of service while trimming costs,” Auditor Yost said. “This partnership serves as a model for neighboring communities across Ohio.”

In 2009, a pilot program between Copley Township and the City of Norton found that combining dispatching resources could provide improved services at a lower cost. The City of Barberton joined the partnership soon after, and the joint dispatch center opened its doors in January 2014.

The partnership has saved a total of $3,505,317 in its first five years of service. Additionally, the communities have not had to increase dispatch costs in four years as a result of the shared services.

Auditor Yost created the Taxpayer Hero Award to acknowledge state and local government officials who demonstrate initiative to cut costs and/or increase efficiency within their respective entities or to protect tax dollars and uphold the integrity of government in Ohio.

Click here to watch a video about the partnership.

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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.

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Brittany Halpin
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614-644-1111