Candidates tout experience in fiscal officer race

CHILLICOTHE — Two men vying to be elected Scioto Township fiscal officer are citing their financial background and experience as reasons why they believe they are the right person for the job.

Incumbent Bill Taylor will be running against challenger Sammy Stamm on Nov. 3, and both individuals bring a wealth of experience to the table. The fiscal officer post is a four-year term that would begin April 1, 2016, for the individual selected to the post.

Taylor, 53, was called out of retirement to return to the post in December 2013 for a third time, having helped the township through a problem with money taken from the township in 1998 and having been elected to serve from 2001 to 2004 in the position.

Officials are still awaiting the results of a state audit reviewing the township's 2012-13 records that Taylor hopes will be received by the end of the year after a fiscal situation was left behind by former township fiscal officer David May.

May resigned in early December 2013 after dealing with health concerns and amid calls for his resignation as the township began receiving utility shutoff notices, saw fuel cards for fire and emergency medical service vehicles deactivated, and faced the threat of penalties in employee areas such as retirement and insurance because of nonpayment or late payments.

Taylor, who described the township's 2014-15 books as being in good shape so far, said he wants to be elected so he can continue working in the office. His number one priority, he said, is to "finish the job I started of cleaning up the financial shambles left behind and continue to provide accurate records and an accurate account of every penny that comes in or leaves the township."

"With over 10 years of service, I have the experience necessary to finish putting Scioto Township finances in order," Taylor said.

Before returning to his position in 2013, he was appointed in 2010 and cited his history of cleaning up the township's financial woes.

For instance, Taylor said the township's general fund once stood at a negative balance, an issue that was later corrected, and said he has a history of solving such problems. In addition, he said, for six years, all of the township's money went into the city's general fund instead of being placed into specific accounts such as fire, cemetery and road.

Taylor also cited his knowledge of how the township operates, in addition to his work with different departments and their needs, and urged the public to look at his accomplishments while in office.

"Experience is number one," he said.

Meanwhile, Stamm also brings a variety of financial expertise, having worked for the state auditor's office for five years before working for the city of Bryan as deputy clerk treasurer. He is a certified public accountant as well as a certified government financial manager.

Stamm, 61, said that what sets himself apart from his opponent is his 27 years worth of experience with governmental auditing and fund accounting, noting that he has done audits for townships and has prepared reports.

"I've been on both sides, which has been very valuable," Stamm said.

Stamm also said he knows the things auditors look for, a trait that he also thinks would be an important skill to have if he were elected. However, he said, he doesn't believe having an outside accounting firm come in as part of the township's audit by the state was the proper step to take.

"My approach would have been is that I would have went in and reconstructed the books myself rather than hiring someone else to do it," Stamm said.

Stamm said his approach would have saved the township money, adding that he is running for the position because he is "greatly concerned about the excessive accounting fees and audit costs Scioto Township continues to incur and the delay in completing the audit and the reconstruction of the books."

He also said he is in favor of making the township's records available online and already has several goals he'd like to tackle if he is elected.

"My goals would be to keep accurate fiscal records, make sure the township is in compliance with governmental laws and regulations, reduce audit costs, and make financial statements available online to taxpayers," Stamm said.