Columbus - Statement from Auditor of State Dave Yost
 
The following may be attributed to Auditor of State Dave Yost regarding the passage of the state’s operating budget legislation (Am. Sub. House Bill 153):
 
 “I applaud Governor Kasich and members of the General Assembly for doing what some said couldn’t be done – they fixed the state budget, without raising taxes,” Auditor Yost said. “I am especially pleased that the legislation includes my proposals to break down barriers for local communities looking to come together to address their fiscal woes.  It is time for a new way of doing business in Ohio.”
 
Auditor Yost’s proposals – the “Local Government Stabilization Toolkit” – include:

1. allowing two or more neighboring townships to voluntarily join force as a single, lower-cost government;
2. streamlining the process for township/municipal mergers so a new government no longer has to be created out of whole new cloth; and
3. strengthening Ohio’s laws impacting local governments in fiscal distress to allow for earlier assistance and intervention.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,600 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.

Contact:
Carrie Bartunek
Press Secretary
(614) 728-7198