Finding for Recovery of $22,269 Issued Against Township Fiscal Officer in Richland County over Late Fees, Interest, and Penalties
Photo: relif / iStock / Getty Images
COLUMBUS — A finding for recovery of $22,269 was issued Thursday against the former fiscal officer for Butler Township in Richland County after she failed to submit tax withholdings for more than four years.
Shirley Baker and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for the total, which was included in an audit of the township’s finances from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2021.
The full report is available online at ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.
Baker served as Butler Township’s fiscal officer from April 2016 through March 2024.
During the first half of her time in office, she did not file quarterly remittances or tax forms to the Internal Revenue Service, incurring penalties, late fees, and interest.
Paying late fees and penalties that could have been avoided by remitting withholdings on time does not qualify as expenditure of funds for a public purpose.
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 Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.