When you examine the office of the County Auditor, you have a whole new perspective of the office. This office’s overview of financial issues makes our community stable and secure.
Many of us see government offices as problem solvers. Transportation clears and builds roads, human resources employs workers, the courts take care of law-breakers.
The Auditor’s Office has such varied areas of responsibility. We are guessing many citizens do not understand their scope of work. Take a look at your County Auditor’s website. You may get the impression that every task not wanted by another agency was pushed into the Auditor’s lap!
However, when you filter through the details, the Auditor is here to help each county resident in several areas. Such as maintaining:
- fiscal integrity of the county itself, its funds and required reporting
- property value and necessary information on homes and businesses
- a safe environment for a resident’s dog. While also ensuring items can be measured – whether it is gas in our cars, or cigarettes purchased
- vast quantities of information databases needed to safely, securely and easily complete their work
We welcome, Michael Stinziano, Auditor of Franklin County to our podcast.
We begin by reviewing this very interesting creation we call the Auditor’s Office.
“Chief fiscal and measurement” guy in the county!
A major responsibility of the Auditor is the 3-year re-evaluations of property values, which likely causes confusion and concern. However, the Franklin County Auditor’s office has created services for property owners to better understand the process. And how to better understand how to appeal the results of the re-evaluation.
Franklin County’s housing markets is one of the “hottest” in the country. The Auditor cannot make/break the real estate market. But Auditor Stinziano talks about the office’s contributions to strengthen the County’s housing market and value level.
Our community is reeling from inequities and division throughout all of our sectors. Over many years, one very important issue that created incredible discrimination in many communities was “redlining.” Auditor Stinziano gives us some of the history on this practice. And how his office supports communities and ensures it does not continue to occur.
We get an overview of the Auditor’s Office released a list of Policy Priorities for 2021. For example: property tax relief for seniors, veterans and the disabled; more accurate property value analysis; local control on approval of large tax incentive programs; and the Tax Incentive Review Council.
There are responsibilities the Auditor’s Office carries out that many of us just take for granted each day.
We never think about whether a “gallon” is really a “gallon” when we are filling our gas tank. Or if we are getting our money’s worth when the grocery deli is weighing out meats and cheeses. The Auditor’s office enforces so many of these responsibilities.
The Auditor’s Office plays a huge role in the financial picture of the county.
The County Auditor is the Chief financial officer:
- processing revenue
- maintaining budgets
- accounting transactions including invoices, payables, payroll
- ensuring the county has sufficient cash to meet expenditures
Why does the Auditor deal with licenses for dogs, kennels, breeders, vendors, cigarettes, and junk yards! And why just dogs, not cats and exotic animals?
A question that is asked frequently revolves around tax abatements for new businesses coming into the region. The County Auditor has no control over who gets an abatement and how much, but the office maintains the records.
Abatements are targeted to economic growth, but not everyone agrees. Auditor Stinziano provides us with more information and his vision for future abatement strategies.
The Community Outreach program provides residents with great information on issues of the day. Or even items to beware such as fraudulent check scams. We talk about the office returning funds to local cities and school districts in Franklin County. To the tune of $3.5 million!
Every year we receive an “Unclaimed Funds” notice from your office. Who doesn’t want to find a hidden stash of cash!
Here’s a link to the resource page we mention in the podcast.
AuditorStinziano@franklincountyohio.gov
You also can call 614-525-4663
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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.
