State releases Girard from fiscal emergency

GIRARD — The Ohio Auditor’s Office, which released Girard from fiscal emergency today, made it clear in a report the city's financial problems extended beyond just overspending to acquire the Girard and Liberty lakes and other capital projects.

The city was placed in fiscal emergency, and a seven-person fiscal planning commission was put in place in 2001, partially as a result of deficit spending. The city had a deficit of $800,000 in 2000 and $1.5 million in 2001.

At the time that fiscal emergency was ordered, the Ohio auditor at the time, Jim Petro, said the city was in crisis because of the overspending. “That problem is due, in part, to substandard management practices,” he said.

Today’s report lists 16 pages worth of management practices the city has worked more than 10 years to correct.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com