Columbus – A pair of Ashtabula Township (Ashtabula County) trustees have returned overpayments of $618 that they received in 2016, according to a state audit released today.

State law lists the authorized pay rates for trustees and fiscal officers based on their township’s annual projected budget, which is considered the total resources available for spending. The pay levels in place when an administrator takes office apply for the duration of his or her term. 

Trustees Bambi Paulchel and Stephen McClure should have been paid $12,346 based on the rates in place when they took office. However, the township calculated their pay using the current rates, causing each to receive $618 more than authorized. 

Both trustees repaid the township in December 2017. Auditors recommended the township improve its monitoring of administrator compensation to prevent future overpayments. 

A full copy of this report is available online. 

###

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.

Contact:
Beth Gianforcaro
Press Secretary
614-644-1111