A Montgomery County judge has approved a request from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to temporarily remove Miami Township’s fiscal officer, Robert Matthews, from his position. The decision comes as the state pursues Matthews’ permanent removal following actions related to township funds.
Yost stated, “The fiscal officer’s sin was trying to invest $9.7 million that didn’t belong to him in a product that the township’s investment policy doesn’t allow for. He doesn’t get to arbitrarily decide that the rules don’t apply.”
Visiting Judge Jonathan P. Hein determined that Matthews met the legal criteria for temporary removal, finding he “in a purposeful and knowing manner, committed an act expressly prohibited by law with regard to a fiscal duty.” As a result, Matthews is barred from performing any of his official responsibilities, including managing financial transactions or reporting, and is restricted from entering township offices except during public meetings.
The court order requires Miami Township to consider the fiscal officer position vacant but does not yet permit officials to seek a replacement for Matthews.
The attorney general’s action follows verified reports that Matthews made an unauthorized withdrawal of $9.7 million in township funds with the intention of purchasing gold coins. If completed, this transaction would have cost the township $382,037 in transaction fees and $32,613 annually for storage.
According to Ohio law, township fiscal officers are limited to clerical duties such as keeping records of accounts and board meetings. The law also states that spending township funds requires signatures from at least two trustees and must be countersigned by the fiscal officer.
