In a recent announcement made by the Auditor of State Keith Faber, a series of local governments and school districts across Ohio have been recognized for their exceptional financial practices. These entities have been bestowed with the prestigious Auditor of State Award for their immaculate audit reports, a symbol of their commitment to principled fiscal management and public service transparency. The award, a testament to rigorous financial housekeeping, goes to those who meet specific criteria signaling a spotless audit report.
The commendations came following the entities' ability to submit their financial reports timely manner via the Hinkle System, adhering to the stringent Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Notable among the recipients are the Brown County Land Reutilization Corp., Butler County Regional Transit Authority, and the City of East Liverpool, each exemplifying the high standards expected by the Auditor's office. In the spirit of transparency, the full reports by celebrated entities are readily available on the Ohio Auditor’s website for public consumption.
"By keeping accurate financial records, governing bodies demonstrate their commitment to efficient, effective, and transparent service," Auditor of State Keith Faber stressed in an attestation to the diligence these bodies have shown. He further emphasized, "This award honors public entities that have put in the hard work to keep their finances in order." Among those honored are the City of Willowick, the Lake Development Authority, as well as the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority—each standing out as a beacon of fiduciary responsibility.
Entities that sealed the award demonstrated adherence to various compliance measures—such as no findings for recovery, material citations, material weakness, significant deficiencies, or questioned costs in their audit reports. Importantly, none of the honored entities' management letters contained comments related to ethics referrals, untimely financial report submissions, or any other concerns that could mar the integrity of their financial standing.
The Auditor of State's Office has set a standard that these awards are meant to inspire towards, encouraging all government and school entities to aspire to a level of transparency and efficiency that merits public trust. To ease access for those interested, the Auditor of State's office has made the full audit reports of these lauded entities available online for anyone to review, as noted on Auditor of State Keith Faber's website.
