“I think that this usurps the authority of the commissioners by not allowing them to use their discretion,” Swain said. “I think some things were being improperly paid out of one of the funds.”
Swain said she began investigating the issue following a Journal story in January about clerk of courts finance director Stephanie Harris helping Carpenter work to balance the county’s budget while she was on the clock in the clerk’s office.
Swain declined to elaborate further on the alleged “poor accounting” until she receives a legal opinion from Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.
Carpenter, who served as clerk of courts for 14 years, said Friday that she was aware of Swain’s allegations, characterizing them as “rumors.” She said she has not been in contact with Swain.
“I would think I would be the key person to contact,” Carpenter said, if there were any questions about the office.
“Until we know more information, I don’t have a comment,” she said. “I don’t know what I would be commenting on.”
Gmoser stressed there are no funds missing.
“I can confirm that it is an issue of how funds are allocated between a special revenue fund, which is in the title division ... and the remainder of the clerk’s office,” Gmoser said.
The prosecutor said his office “will look at everything,” and he may confer with the Ohio Auditor’s Office.
“I think that if there’s a wrongdoing, it needs to be aired, and we need to get to the bottom of it,” said county Commission President Chuck Furmon.
Commissioner Don Dixon said he has heard “bits and pieces,” but until Gmoser’s opinion comes out “there’s not much to comment about.”
Ohio Auditor spokeswoman Carrie Bartunek wouldn’t comment on specifics due to the ongoing performance audit requested by county commission. But she said the issue is something “we’ll take a look at as we conduct our audit.”
“This looks like a situation of which pocket in the pants did the money come from,” Bartunek said.
Staff Writer Kareem Elgazzar contrib
u
ted to this report.
About the Author
