Niles interim treasurer finds unprocessed tax checks, violating state law

NILES

Interim city Treasurer Janet Rizer-Jones has been on the job only three days in this city in the throes of fiscal emergency. Immediately, she has been confronted with several major problems.

The first and biggest: depositing $154,000 in income-tax checks from businesses and residents that had gone unprocessed since they were delivered by the postal service in April.

Jones and Lisa Smathers, city tax director, confirmed that state-appointed financial supervisors advised them Monday to deposit the funds immediately.

The Ohio Revised Code requires deposits of public money on the “business day next following the day of receipt if the total amount of such moneys received exceeds $1,000.”

By being nearly 30 days late, Niles was out of compliance with state law.

The payments remained untouched while Jones’ predecessor, Robert Swauger, still was in office. Swauger resigned last week, saying his banking career did not leave him enough time to dedicate to the part-time treasurer position he had for three terms.

Read more about the situation in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.