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Published on January 21, 2025
Bloom Township Fiscal Officer Liable for Over $1.4K in Late Fees, Ohio Auditor's Report RevealsSource: Google Street View

In a recent audit of Bloom Township's finances, fiscal officer Diana Stonerock was found liable for late payments resulting in penalties and interest totaling $1,464.80, according to a report released by Ohio's Auditor of State's Office. The audit examined the township's financial activities from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023, and uncovered late remittances to various state and federal agencies.

The breakdown of the late fees includes $839.48 in 2022 and $571.85 in 2023, which were paid to the Internal Revenue Service, the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, and the State of Ohio. Furthermore, auditors identified an additional $53.47 paid in late fees to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System for delayed pension system payments. This financial oversight by Stonerock has drawn criticism for what auditors describe as "gross negligence."

In their findings, auditors explicitly stated, according to the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber, "The repeated failure to remit state tax withholdings, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation premiums, and federal tax withholdings timely is considered gross negligence" and "serve no proper public purpose and could have been avoided had the withholdings and premiums been paid in a timely manner." These comments reflect the seriousness of the fiscal officer's lapses in fulfilling her duties to manage public funds effectively.

The Auditor of State’s Office, led by Auditor Keith Faber, is a key watchdog for the financial integrity of state and local government agencies in Ohio. In addition to auditing over 5,900 agencies, the office is also charged with providing financial services, preventing fraud, and heightening transparency in government operations. The findings against Stonerock are a recent example of the office's commitment to accountability and the proper use of taxpayer funds.