Ohio’s Auditor of State, Keith Faber, says that the former Pike County auditor overpaid county employees close to $2,000. Now, those employees are responsible for paying it back.
Faber’s office released its 2018 audit of Pike County today. In it, he says that former County Auditor Erica Snodgrass overpaid employees $1,932.
Some of those overpayments are less than $100. Looking at the report, it doesn’t look to even be the employee’s fault. But the auditor says it’s not the amount of money.
“It is unacceptable for local officials to be cavalier with taxpayer dollars,” Faber said. “Leadership must take their responsibility over public funds very seriously, so we can avoid more issues in future audits.”
Here’s what the report said Snodgrass did wrong:
Vacation Overpayment
Back in 2018, Sherry Johnson received a severance payment for her accumulated vacation as an employee of the Pike County Auditor’s Office. However, that payment exceeded the amount for which employees are allowed to be compensated for vacation.
They may be paid for no more than three years of vacation time after their last anniversary date. Johnson was overpaid $1,154.
Auditor Keith Faber said both Johnson and Snodgrass are jointly and severally liable for the improper payment. Snodgrass because she approved the payment and signed the warrant authorizing the payment. Johnson because she received the money. That means the state can get the money back from either one of them.
Paid Day Off
In another instance, employees are once again responsible for paying back the money they received by mistake. The auditor’s office says Snodgrass closed the Pike County Auditor’s office on February 22, 2019.
The workers had no idea this was happening until they got to work and saw a sign posted on the office door.
Snodgrass went ahead and paid the employees for working on that day. A check of the time clock showed that the hours were put into the system manually and not through the normal process.
Reports show that the following employees were paid for working on February 22, 2019:
| Employee | Hours | Overpayment |
| Sarah Rittenour | 7.17 | $125 |
| Karlena Reinhard | 8 | $158 |
| Breanna Obetz | 8 | $108 |
| Patches Martin | 8 | $148 |
| Wendy Sevens | 7.48 | $158 |
| Misty Bushatz | 4.37 | $81 |
Faber said those employees are required to pay back the money to the county. Snodgrass is also jointly and severally liable for the money since she’s the one who authorized the payments.
Again, this is a grand total of $778. Not exactly a fortune. But Faber’s office doesn’t seem to be playing around.
In a statement announcing the findings, The Auditor’s office reminded county auditors to review timesheets, time clock reports, and other payroll documents to ensure compensation is paid only for actual hours worked.
