The ex-fiscal officer for the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District in Highland County, James Barrett, stands held accountable for over $36,000 in fiscal discrepancies following a special audit report, as publicized by the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office on its official website. These recoveries uncover a tale of late fees and unapproved expenditures lurking within the financial statements of the district.
Barrett's mismanagement came to light after an investigation that began in February 2023, when allegations of dubious purchases made by him emerged, he had been at his position since July 2015 up until his resignation in September 2022, during this period Barrett unleashed a slew of 77 personal transactions on the district credit card totalling $2,813.05 usurping district funds for personal gain. These transgressions led to his guilty plea on misdemeanor charges of misuse of a credit card and dereliction of duty, entangling him in paying restitution amounting to $35,719.25.
The report also illustrates Barrett’s failure to deal with tax and pension system withholdings promptly, this lax approach resulted in in excess of $226,000 in fines, penalties, and accrued interest. While the district was granted waivers for a substantial portion of this weight, they were still stranded with $32,906.20 in outstanding financial penalties and interest.
Furthermore, Tuesday's financial audits beckoned additional recoveries against Barrett, affirming two separate instances of unpermitted spending; these included $973 for cash prizes and a melange of candy for Halloween festivities purchases that lacked official sanctioning or proper documentation, all attendees were left to wonder on the transparency and due process of these financial decisions. Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has facilitated convictions leading to more than $13 million in restitution, a testament to their vigilance amid a myriad of fraud tips they receive each year.
The Auditor of State’s office, helmed by Auditor Keith Faber, continues its quest to ensure integrity within the 5,900+ state and local government entities it is tasked with auditing. This recent uncovering by the Special Investigations Unit fortifies the office's dedication to combating fraud and advocating for greater government transparency.
