Financial mishandling has put two former Hanover Township fiscal officers in the crosshairs, with state auditors issuing findings for recovery totaling $11,294.76 against Jennifer Nethers and John Osborn. This action, initiated by the Ohio Auditor's office, is a response to late payment penalties and payroll discrepancies unearthed during a routine audit of the township's books spanning from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.
According to the release on Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber, Nethers faces a recovery total of $7,806.10 and Osborn $1,988.19 for the penalties and late fees incurred, including interest. Errors during Nether's term led to her being underpaid initially, and then subsequently overpaid, resulting in an additional $1,500.47 tagged for recovery.
Osborn and Nethers, with tenures as fiscal officers between 2016 and 2024, were found to have lagged in fulfilling tax obligations to federal, state, and school district entities, along with payments to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. The report indicates that several financial complications could have been sidestepped, had the filings been processed within the stipulated time frames.
Now, facing accountability, the audit states, "Osborn and Nethers and their bonding companies are jointly and severally liable for the findings." The duo's failure to manage Hanover Township's finances appropriately has led to this financial reckoning, placing under scrutiny the accountability measures within small township governance.
For residents curious about the intricate details of the audit, the full report is accessible at the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber's website. As this situation unfolds, Hanover Township officials have yet to issue a statement addressing these financial improprieties or disclose any proactive measures to prevent similar oversights in the future.
