$36,221 in revoked bonuses still owed to Columbus City Schools

From the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office

Current and former Columbus City School District (Franklin County) employees still owe $36,221 in revoked bonuses, according to an audit released this week by Auditor of State Dave Yost. However, the school district has recovered the majority of the $357,655 revoked in 2014.

“These employees have had almost a year and a half to pay back the bonuses that they didn’t deserve,” Auditor Yost said. “I’m glad to see the district has recovered the lion’s share of the funds, but it’s time for the remaining employees to hand over the rest.”

During FY 2011, the school district issued bonuses to employees based on student results as part of its gainsharing program. However, a special audit of the district released by the Auditor of State’s office in January 2014 identified issues related to inaccurate student data. As a result, the district reevaluated the bonuses and revoked $357,655 of the total amount issued.

The district has recovered $310,996 of the revoked amount using internal collection processes. Of the remaining $46,635 uncollected, $7,566 is currently being repaid by employees through repayment plans and/or monthly payroll deductions, and $22 is related to a deceased employee. The district has been unable to collect the remaining $39,047.

Findings for recovery in the total amount of $39,047 were issued against 81 current and former school district employees. Ten of those employees repaid a total of $2,531 during the course of the audit, and one has a repayment plan in place, leaving $36,221 still outstanding and owed to the district.

A full copy of this report may be accessed online at https://ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/detail.aspx?ReportID=120269

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Milford Exempted Village School District
owes Ohio Medicaid $22,870

Poor billing controls resulted in more than $22,000 in overpayments to the Milford Exempted Village School District (Clermont County), according to a Medicaid audit released this week by Auditor of State Dave Yost.

“Mistakes happen when details go overlooked,” Auditor Yost said. “The Milford Exempted Village School District needs a quality review process to make sure its documentation is complete and accurate before it bills the state.”

Auditors examined 469 services provided during the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014 and identified 42 exceptions, which resulted in overpayments totaling $22,192.72. With interest in the amount of $677.79, the Milford Exempted Village School District owes the Ohio Department of Medicaid $22,870.51.

A review of service documentation identified 20 services with no documentation and eight services in which recipients were absent or there was no school on the dates of service. Auditors also determined that the activity documented for seven services was inconsistent with the procedure codes billed.

In addition, auditors examined Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which are required for recipients of special education services, and noted six instances in which there were no IEPs to support the services provided. The audit also found one service that was not authorized on the correlating IEP.