The Hamilton County Agricultural Society is under scrutiny after the state labeled it “unauditable” due to disorganized financial records. The Auditor of State’s office released a statement highlighting a lack of proper bookkeeping that has left the society's financial status uncertain between December 1, 2021, and November 30, 2023.
A letter from the state auditor's office addressed to Agricultural Society President Crystal Holthaus and Treasurer Tonya Eisner-Elliott noted the absence of essential financial documentation such as accounting ledgers and book-to-bank reconciliations. The Auditor of State, Keith Faber, indicated that an audit cannot be properly conducted without these records. According to the official release from the Ohio Auditor of State office, the organization now faces a 90-day window to rectify the situation and produce the necessary details for a complete review of its financial operations.
If the society fails to meet the Ohio Rev. Code Section 117.42 requirements, legal actions may follow. As detailed by the state auditor's communication, this could entail a subpoena demanding the appearance of Holthaus and Eisner-Elliott to provide a valid reason for their failure to organize their records. In more severe circumstances, the Attorney General may initiate a lawsuit to compel the Agricultural Society to produce the necessary documents for an audit.
The state has extended a hand to assist in the situation, suggesting that the Hamilton County Agricultural Society can seek guidance from the Auditor of State’s Local Government Services division or hire an independent accounting firm. It's a move that emphasizes the importance of accountability in managing the finances of public institutions. Yet, the auditor's office has made it clear: the inability to meet auditors' schedule or a failure to act promptly, will not be acceptable excuses for delays beyond the prescribed 90-day period.
