League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Auditor; City of Norwood

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Qualifications, Basic Services, Budget, Clean Air Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What are your qualifications for office? Answer from Jim Stith: As the Norwood City Auditor I am familiar with Ohio Accounting and Budgetary law. I continue to assure the proper use of the citizens tax dollars through enforcement of financial regulations. Since taking office as the Auditor in January 2008 I have: Appointed Auditor staff with financial, accounting, and technology experience. Providing transparency in Government by creating monthly financial reports available in the Auditors office and by bringing the Auditor's office online making the City's information available to it's citizens. Modernizing the City's financial systems and technologies. Prepared and filed financial reports for the years 2006 and 2007 updating the City's accounting system to be compliant with government standards. Prepared the award winning 2008 and 2009 CAFR's. The first time these reports were produced since 2003. Also prepared the 2010 CAFR, currently being reviewed for the GFOA award. Continue to identify and correct inefficiencies. 2. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the City? Answer from Jim Stith: While the safety and security of our citizens is of paramount importance we must balance this with the other services we are tasked with supplying with the tax payers dollars. A community is not a group of buildings and businesses but of homes and families. We must support our local families with programs for our children and seniors. This is done by supporting our service programs and parks. In these tough financial times it is time to think outside of the box and find ways of financing these important programs that make us a community and attract new families to our neighborhoods. 3. How would you balance the City Budget? Answer from Jim Stith: In the Auditor's office we have eliminated overtime, instituted flex time and reduced our total payroll. We have also made significant reductions in our contractual and material costs through improved efficiency and stream lined processes. While the Auditor does not write the budget or even have the opportunity to vote on the adopted budget we can offer guidance and suggestions on the appropriate use of tax payers money. Through ongoing analysis of the city's financial data we continue to find areas of savings as we have in the past. We will continue to provide financial data in compliance with governmental accounting regulations. This data should be used by city council to develop the budget. 4. What actions will you take to support clean air? Answer from Jim Stith: As Auditor I will assure budgetary compliance and enforce financial regulations to the limit of my authority. As a financial officer my actions would have only an indirect effect on this type of legislation. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits may apply. See individual questions for specific word limits. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. Please edit your work before submitting. We are unable to provide spell-check at this time. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.