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The total amount overspent came to $1,225,931.
GIRARD, Ohio - A recently released audit of the City of Girard found more than a million dollars was overspent by officials.
An audit of the city's finances in the 2024 fiscal year found several “violations” that could put the city into negative fund balances.
It lists fire overtime, fire salaries, municipal court judge salary among the 13 places the city overspent.
Excess expenditure in the City's budget:
The total amount overspent came to $1,225,931.
That total number appears to be even higher with the audit explaining that there are several other departments and services where the city overspent up to $10,000 that the audit doesn't have to detail. That excess money was found in the General Fund, Elderly Bus Fare Fund, Recreational Fund, Senior Levy Fund and Sewer Fund.
The 2024 fiscal year was Mayor Mark Zuppo's first year in the position. 21 News reached out to him, the city treasurer and auditor about the city's current financial status and they were all not available.
The audit also found significant deficiencies for employee health insurance and the speed camera fines stating the city has not established sufficient controls to make sure the claims and fines are accurately processed.
“...The City has not established procedures to determine whether these service organizations have sufficient controls in place and are operating effectively to reduce the risk that health insurance claims and speed camera fines have not been authorized or completely and accurately processed in accordance with the Contract,” the audit states.
A response from the city is listed to both findings.
“The City will closely regulate any timing matters of all funds and monitor the fund activity” about the overspending and “the City will review and implement the recommendations” was listed in response to the health insurance and speed camera operations.
A page signed by Auditor Keith Faber states the "Auditor of State is conducting an investigation, which is on-going as of the date of this report" and added that results may be reported depending on the outcome of the investigation.
The entire audit can be found here.
The Mayor's office issued a statement regarding the audit on Thursday, which reads:
The City did not overspend any funds, nor does the City have negative fund balances. All expenditures were fully covered by available funds within each respective account. The figures referenced in the audit include expenditures plus encumbrances, which can sometimes make it appear as though funds are over budget when, in fact, the funds are fully supported by available resources.
At the close of the fiscal year, all funds had sufficient balances to cover end of-the-year expenses and commitments. The city remains in sound financial standing and continues to operate within its approved budget and financial policies.