Finance Department
As Chief Fiscal Officer of the county, the Auditor accounts for the millions of dollars that flow through the County Treasury each year.
The County Auditor is responsible for the following:
- Administration and distribution of tax revenues
- Accounting for all county funds (except those accounts segregated by law to certain office holders)
- Administration of county payroll
- Producing official financial reports for county, state, and federal governments
The name "Auditor" is misleading. The County Auditor has many responsibilities, but performing audits is not one of them. That function is, by law, performed by the Auditor of State. One of the County Auditor's many duties is that of Chief Fiscal Officer of the county. It is the Auditor's responsibility to account for the millions of dollars that flow through the County Treasury each year and to issue warrants (checks) in payment of all county obligations — including the distribution of tax dollars to the townships, villages, cities, school districts, and library systems, as well as other county agencies. The Auditor's Finance Department is the watchdog over all county funds deposited in the county treasury and maintains the official records of those receipts, disbursements, and fund balances.
It is the Auditor's responsibility to serve as the paymaster for all county employees.
The Auditor also distributes motor vehicle license fees, gasoline taxes, estate taxes, fines, and local government funds, in addition to real estate, personal property, and manufactured home taxes.
As Chief Fiscal Officer of each county, the Auditor is required by law to prepare the county's annual financial report. Fairfield County prepares an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).