The fiscal management of the Village of Swanton in Fulton County has come under scrutiny after an audit revealed mishandled finances by former fiscal officer Jason Vasko. This negligence in timely tax and credit payments has prompted a finding for recovery of nearly $3,000 against him. The audit, which spanned from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, specifically calls out Vasko's responsibility for incurring late fees and penalties to various governmental bodies and financial institutions.
According to a report released by the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber's Office, the financial repercussions Vasko is liable for include a series of late fees originating from overlooked or delayed payments during his tenure from March 20, 2022, through February 4, 2023, he failed to make timely federal taxes, Ohio Public Employee Retirement System withholdings, and credit card payments, the penalties for these delinquencies have added up to a sizable sum.
The breakdown of the fines accounts for $2,042.43 charged by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for unsubmitted quarterly employment reports, in addition to $468.18 to the Internal Revenue Service and $395.99 owed to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System; further, PNC Bank is due $71.34. These charges add up to the finding for a recovery of $2,977.44.
The Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber's Office, headed by Auditor Keith Faber, is tasked with the oversight of more than 5,900 state and local government entities, and beyond auditing, the office is charged with the role of providing financial services to local governments, preventing fraud within public agencies, and underscoring the value of government transparency, these are responsibilities that serve to secure the fiduciary trust that must exist between governmental bodies and the public they serve.
