More legislation aimed at JobsOhio introduced at Statehouse

By David Beasley
The Center Square 

An Ohio state senator is adding another bill to the mix of proposed legislation surrounding the controversy over JobsOhio, a state economic development agency funded with the state’s revenue from liquor sales.

Former Ohio State President Ted Carter recently resigned after it was disclosed that he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a podcaster linked to JobsOhio.

JobsOhio paid $60,000 to sponsor four episodes of the podcasts but only one was completed.

State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Rome, introduced Senate 420 which would require JobsOhio to undergo an annual state performance audit and subject the private, nonprofit agency to the state’s open records and open meetings laws.

O’Brien is a former county auditor.

“It’s time they follow Ohio laws and open up the records, open up their meetings and have performance audits,” she said at a news conference.

Earlier this year, a similar bill, the JobsOhio Transparency Act, was introduced in the Ohio House by State Reps. Tristan W. Rader, D–Lakewood, and Justin Pizzulli, R–Scioto County.

“Using public money to create jobs, don’t you think the public should know what jobs were created and was the money well spent?” Obrien asked. “A performance audit does that.”

A performance audit is different from a financial audit, O’Brien said.

“A financial audit goes through all the finances and makes sure they all add up,” she said. “But a performance audit is for public entities to see if they are meeting their goals, if something maybe needs to be changed. Maybe there is wrongdoing. They’ll usually pick it up in a performance audit.”

Obrien said while other legislation has been introduced to increase the transparency of  JobsOhio, her bill is much simpler.

“Treat it like all other government entities,” she said. “Open books, open meetings, and once yearly have a performance audit.”

JobsOhio does not generally comment on pending legislation, spokesman Matt Englehart told The Center Square.

“Overall, as a private nonprofit economic development corporation, JobsOhio has been committed to clearly and consistently reporting business metrics and financial information since its inception in 2011,” he said.  “JobsOhio remains committed to sharing as much information as possible with the public and policymakers, while maintaining Ohio’s competitive advantage when seeking to attract economic development investments to Ohio.