CINCINNATI -- Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost declared a small Adams County village "unauditable" Monday because the community apparently has no elected officials to provide needed records.
There are no elected officials listed for Rome on the county website.
Rome, Ohio has no mayor or village clerk, according to the Adams County Board of Elections' website. Four council members are listed with terms that all expired at the end of 2013, and the only phone number listed has been disconnected.
The village, located on the Ohio River, had a population of 94 as of 2010, according to the U.S. Census. The Census Bureau had no information about local governments in the village.
Officials with the auditor of state's office discovered the lack of officials while seeking documents for a regular financial audit of the village for 2014 and '15.
The village has hired one person to maintain records, but she was unable to provide the records needed for an audit and did not know who was on the village council, according to Yost.
“It’s tough to start an audit when you can’t even find the people in charge, but it’s even harder when they don’t provide any records,” Yost said in a news release.
The village has 90 days to provide the auditor of state's office with required records or village officials -- someone -- may face legal action, according to the announcement. The office's Local Government Section can assist the village in bringing their records to an auditable condition, officials said.
Village officials couldn't immediately be reached.
