The former fiscal officer of the Village of Cloverdale in Putnam County, Gwen Spencer, has been hit with a finding for recovery amounting to a little over three thousand dollars over mishandled village fund payments that incurred penalties and interest charges. An audit released brought to light the financial mismanagement under Spencer’s watch.
The audit report, which examined the village’s financial activities from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024, dictates that both Spencer and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for the recovery of $3,409.70. This sum includes penalties and interest to the Internal Revenue Service amounting to $3,095.52, Ohio Department of Taxation penalties and interest of $309.61, and a mere $4.57 in penalties to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.
It was evident from the audit that there were multiple instances of late payments during the tenure of the former fiscal officer. Interesting to note, beyond the specified penalties, is the recommendation by auditors for the Village Council to "establish procedures to verify withholdings and payments are made in a timely manner to avoid interest and penalties for delinquent submissions," according to the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber. The audit serves as a cautionary tale, warning that failure to implement such checks and balances could result in similar or more severe findings for recovery in subsequent audits.
The full story of the village’s fiscal oversight, or rather, the lack thereof, is accessible to the public online for further scrutiny. Details of the audit and Spencer’s role in the financial disarray can be unearthed on the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber’s official website. Indeed, these events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of adherence to bureaucratic timelines and the potential fiscal consequences that can arise from seemingly minor lapses in the bureaucratic process.
