WOODLAWN — Officials of this small village have asked state auditor's investigators to analyze their finances in the wake of a $409,631 general fund deficit.

        Mayor Susan Upton requested the analysis in an Aug. 28 letter to Ohio Auditor Jim Petro.

        It is expected to be completed by the end of September, said Jeff Eichhorn, state auditor spokesman.

        According to Woodlawn Financial Director Ronnise Handy, who was hired in January, the state analysis of the northern Hamilton County village's $409,631 general fund deficit from 2000 will help determine the exact reasons for the shortfall.

        The village's annual general fund for 2000 was about $3.2 million; and according to an initial report from the auditor's local government division, the village had “significant deficits in its swimming pool and property acquisition funds.”

        The village's new swimming pool, at 10120 Woodlawn Blvd., opened in June 2000.

        Ms. Handy said it's too early to tell the reasons for the deficit. “I thought it would be a good idea to have an independent body come in and examine this.

        “This is something the village officials are working out ... and there will not be any decrease in police, fire or other village services,” she said.

        The state auditor's office is also to begin a regularly scheduled two-year audit of the village beginning Sept. 10, which will examine the community's finances for both 1999 and 2000.

        Woodlawn is the most recent Greater Cincinnati municipality to fall under the examining powers of the state auditor.

        In December, the Warren County village of Harveysburg — after an auditor's examination — was put on fiscal watch for budget deficits exceeding state limits.

        In 1997 Silverton in Hamilton County was placed on fiscal watch but corrected its finances by 1999 and was no longer under state restrictions. In 1998, the village of Corwin, in Warren County, was placed on fiscal emergency, but state control was lifted in 1999 when it eliminated its budget deficit.

        Being put on fiscal watch is considered a “fairly rare occurrence in Ohio,” said Mr. Eichhorn.

        Under Ohio law, fiscal watch is less serious than a fiscal emergency, which calls for formation of an outside group to oversee village finances.

At work, blacks still sense limits
Cop wants manslaughter trial moved
Lost innocence: kid-on-kid sex crimes
Protecting children from sexual abuse
School geared to brightest children
City school reforms began with Buenger
Education summit for students, adults
GED students race deadline
How GED test has evolved
Politics abound at picnic
Luken addresses crime in TV spot
12-year-old rams car into house
Flower giveaway aims to promote good will
Log house defenders fight government
Man shot dead outside city motel
UC medical school adds Web application
Woodlawn requests analysis
Congrats
In the schools
Local Digest
Road-project foes press ballot drive
Democrat likely to take on Murgatroyd
Festivals part of Hispanic heritage month
Ft. Wright throwing birthday party
Artificial hearts compared
Kentucky Digest
Sewer system brings growth
Soldiers' families hope bodies can come home