Columbus – Auditor of State Keith Faber today declared Hanover Township (Licking County) “unauditable” list after officials failed to file financial statements for fiscal years 2017 and 2018.

“Taxpayers have a right to know how their tax dollars are spent,” Auditor Faber said. “Failing to submit complete financial records keeps taxpayers in the dark and is completely unacceptable.”

Auditor Faber declared the township “unauditable” after auditors were unable to obtain a complete set of financial statements, support for bank reconciliations, bank statements, checks, invoices, expenditure ledgers, and receipts for fiscal years 2017 and 2018

Within 90 days of receiving the “unauditable” declaration, the township must revise their financial records and provide the data necessary to complete the audit. Failure to bring accounts, records, and reports to an auditable condition may result in legal action, including the possibility of the Attorney General issuing a subpoena to village officials to explain the condition of records. The Attorney General may also file suit to compel the officials to prepare and/or produce the required information.

The Auditor’s Local Government Services section is available to village officials to assist in bringing records to an auditable condition. Local Government Services provides a wide variety of services to local governments, including reconstructing financial records and aid in the reconciling of books.

The Auditor’s office removes an entity from the “unauditable” list once the audit is complete and released to the public.

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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 6,000 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government. 

Contact:

Allie Dumski

Press Secretary

(614) -644-1111