State auditor honors city schools

Springfield recognized for financial work.

The Springfield City Schools’ treasurer’s office was recognized recently with the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for “outstanding financial reporting” — an award that last year was received by less than 3 percent of public agencies audited by the state.

Two levels of awards are granted each year to school districts and local governments, with the Auditor of State Award with Distinction being the highest.

Among the approximately 4,000 audits the state releases each year, only 109 awards “with distinction” were granted in 2012, according to Brittany Halpin, spokeswoman for the auditor’s office.

The Springfield district was named a recipient because its accounting process met several criteria in a financial audit by Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost’s office.

The criteria in the audit included: timely financial reports with the auditor’s office, no findings for recovery, citations, weaknesses or deficiencies, and others.

Treasurer Dale Miller accepted the award on behalf of the office and the district at the district’s board meeting in August.

“This award belongs to every employee in the district for upholding the high standards set forth by each and every department to earn this designation,” Miller told the board.

Miller was appointed last year as district treasurer and took over in April this year following the retirement of Chris Mohr. Miller became the district’s controller in 2009.

The award is presented to local governments and school districts upon successfully meeting criteria in its financial audit.

“I think this reinforces what the board feeling is in terms of that we have great leadership,” Springfield City Schools Board of Education President Ed Leventhal said. “Hopefully it’s just confirmation to the citizens of the Springfield City School District about our financial reporting and our fiscal stewardship of the tax dollars.”

“It makes you feel good as a board member because it’s basically a $100 million dollar business that we’re running and to know that we’ve got such good fiscal leadership is a very good thing,” Leventhal said.

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