State Auditor: TARTA illegally lent public money to PAC
Written by Zach Davis | | zdavis@toledofreepress.comOhio Auditor of State Dave Yost released a news release May 5 that found the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) illegally lent $66,885 to “Citizens for TARTA.”
Citizens for TARTA functions to help raise funds for levy campaigns in favor of the public transit service. The political action committee borrowed $13,885 without interest in 2007 and $53,000 in January 2008. Under Section 9.03 of the Ohio Revised Code, “No governing body of a political subdivision shall use public funds to support or oppose the passage of a levy or bond issue.” As of now, Citizens for TARTA has not yet repaid any of the money.
“Taxpayers expect their dollars to pay for public services, not to influence a political campaign,” said Yost in his news release. “The taxpayers’ money must be repaid by Citizens for TARTA.”
If Citizens for TARTA cannot repay the lent money, TARTA General Manager James Gee will be held “jointly and severally liable” for recovering it, Yost said. Gee also serves as TARTA’s Deputy Treasurer and is responsible for filing campaign finance reports.
Waterville Mayor Derek Merrin filed a complaint with the Lucas County Board of Elections on Jan. 12 .
“TARTA blatantly violated state law,” Merrin told Toledo Free Press in February. “TARTA has illegally funneled taxpayer dollars to fund their levy. It’s an illegal scheme and tax payers are the victims.
Waterville is one of nine subdivisions that participate in TARTA.
Tags: David Yost, Derek Merrin, James Gee, TARTA
This is disgraceful…Gee needs to be kicked to the curb…Congratulations to the Auditor Yost and Mayor Merrin for their work.
This comment was posted on May 6th, 2011 at 10:20 amAnd, the penalty for criminally using hard earned tax dollars by a very wasteful, unionized , riderless and highly polluting entity’s Chief Administrator, in Little Detroit / Lucas County ?!
A gigantic pay raise, more tax payer paid Gold Plated benefits at 85 %, and a double or triple dipping do nothing future job working for other psychotic spending Demonrat criminals….GUARANTEED !!!
Just another in a very long list of one party fascist examples of how things are done around this godforsaken pit of Demonrat criminality !!!
You have to laugh because crying, is for those who do not care to fight against this madness !!
And, the band plays on…
This comment was posted on May 6th, 2011 at 10:37 amGee should resign. If I remember…Citizens for TARTA has an on-hand balance of about $25,000. Unless Gee can do some big fundraising, he going to personally be out about $44,000. That’s a high price to pay for fleecing tax payers…He deserves it.
This comment was posted on May 6th, 2011 at 11:02 am