Columbus – The fiscal officer of Paxton Township has repaid $300 to the Ross County community after auditors found the township violated state law by giving her a midterm pay raise. 

A financial audit of the township released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost issues a finding against Fiscal Officer Vicky Mettler for a $300 bonus she received after her term started in April 2016.

Township trustees approved the bonus for Mettler, but they lack the authority to do so because pay rates for township officials are set by state law. Based on the township’s budget for 2016, Mettler should have earned $14,677. Instead, the township paid her $14,977. She repaid the excess amount on Dec. 29, 2017.

The audit also discovered more than a dozen transactions that were posted incorrectly to the township’s accounting system. In another finding, auditors noted a $45,513 deficit in the township’s general fund at the end of 2016.

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.

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Beth Gianforcaro
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614-644-1111