Ohio auditor reviews taxpayer-funded parking tickets after Franklin County commissioner repays $1,420

The Ohio Auditor of State’s office is reviewing taxpayer-funded parking tickets involving Franklin County commissioners’ vehicles after Commissioner Erica Crawley reimbursed the county $1,420.

The auditor’s office confirmed earlier this month that it was reviewing the matter following a 10TV investigation into parking citations involving county vehicles and who paid the fines.

“We are aware of the matter and it is under review,” the auditor’s office told the television station.

County funds were used to pay 17 parking tickets involving commissioners’ vehicles over a little more than a year, including a $580 citation issued in June 2024 for parking in an accessible parking zone. Crawley acknowledged responsibility for the violation after the station questioned her about the citation.

“Yes, I take responsibility for not seeing the sign. The fine was reimbursed,” Crawley said in an Oct. 9 statement.

Other citations issued in July 2024 included violations for parking in a no-stopping zone and parking in the wrong direction.

Crawley reimbursed Franklin County $1,420 through two payments from her personal accounts, according to county officials. The reimbursement followed a Sept. 29 public records request from 10TV reporter Lacey Crisp seeking information about parking tickets issued to vehicles used by county commissioners and whether taxpayers had paid the fines.

Franklin County Administrator Ken Wilson acknowledged during an Oct. 6 public meeting that county officials learned of the issue after the station’s records request.

“We became aware of this through media requests,” Wilson said.

Wilson attributed the taxpayer-funded payments to a misinterpretation of county policy.

“Due to an erroneous interpretation of our policy, we had a circumstance in which county funds were used to pay for parking infractions for some county vehicles on official county business. And the reimbursement to the county did not occur,” Wilson said.

Crawley said she previously questioned the parking citations involving a vehicle used by her office but was told reimbursement was unnecessary.

“When I previously inquired about the citations associated with the county vehicle, I was advised that reimbursement was not necessary,” Crawley said.

“Now that the matter has been brought to my attention again, I have reimbursed the county $1,420 for the full amount of the citations and fees associated with the vehicle,” Crawley said.

“In the future, we will ensure that all parking violation fees without exception are reimbursed by county employees when conducting county business,” Wilson said.

“We regret this oversight and I’m pleased that we were ultimately able to resolve this without any expense to the county,” he added.

Crawley also said she considered the reimbursement issue resolved and supported efforts to clarify county policy.

“I consider the matter resolved and support the Administration’s efforts to ensure greater clarity and consistency in the future,” Crawley said in an Oct. 6 statement.

The auditor’s office had not announced any findings.