Ohioans who care about how their tax dollars are managed can mark their calendars for a financial reckoning this coming Tuesday. The Auditor of State, Keith Faber's office, is doing its due diligence; it's set to release a series of audit reports that scrutinize the handling of public money across the state. For those with an eye on accountability, this could provide valuable insights into just how efficiently — or not — various public entities are spending their hard-earned money.
The audits are part of the Auditor's ongoing mission, which the Auditor of State, Keith Faber's office, describes as a commitment "to protect Ohioans’ tax dollars while aggressively fighting fraud, waste, and abuse of public money." The pile of documents that will drop is the product of an office biding its time, crunching numbers, and taking names, all in an effort to ensure transparency and the responsible use of funds. There's an expectation of candor and an implicit warning in the air — any mishandling discovered might well be met with repercussions, accountability is not just an abstract concept for Faber's team, but a brass-tack reality.
The official announcement, published today, doesn't tease much in the way of specifics, but it sets the stage for what could be a revealing release. The Auditor of State's office does these audits in batches, releasing these findings semiweekly, so they've got the routine down — this isn't their first rodeo when it comes to shining a light on public financial management, or lack thereof.
What remains to be seen is the content of these reports and the reaction of the audited entities once the findings hit the public sphere. Whether we'll see acknowledgments of flaws and promises of improvement, or defensive posturing and excuses, is up in the air – what is certain is that the dance of democracy continues, with accountability leading the steps across Ohio’s financial management floor, for in this theater of numbers, the next act is about to commence. Readers interested in the fiscal health and integrity of their institutions will find these documents a crucial barometer — and for the financial wonks, it's practically Christmas in June.
