On the evening of the Primary Election, Fiscal Officer Karen Walder submitted her resignation to Russell Township Trustees, citing a lack of willingness to change financial processes and an inability to carry out her duties following what she described as unfounded accusations.
On the evening of the Primary Election, Fiscal Officer Karen Walder submitted her resignation to Russell Township Trustees, citing a lack of willingness to change financial processes and an inability to carry out her duties following what she described as unfounded accusations.
“Under Ohio law, the board of township trustees — not the fiscal officer — holds sole authority over the township’s budget, tax policy and the decision to place levies before voters,” she said in her letter of resignation, dated May 5. “The fiscal officer, as a separately elected office, has significant responsibilities including maintaining accurate records, fulfilling public records requests, certifying available funds and ensuring that expenditures comply with lawful appropriations. The direction of the township’s finances, however, rests entirely with the board.”
Walder added she has witnessed trustees failing to exercise these responsibilities.
“Despite years of strong and consistent financial support from residents, the township has accumulated a substantial level of unencumbered cash carryover,” Walder said in her letter. “In my view, this reflects a failure to adequately plan, prioritize and responsibly manage taxpayer dollars.”
Her resignation follows months of tension related to a reported $4.8 million excess cash carryover for 2025, which earlier this year led Trustee Amy Heutmaker to accuse Walder of making interfund and/or intrafund transfers in violation of the Ohio Revised Code, resulting in the excess.
Heutmaker also alleged Walder made material discrepancies between the township’s end-of-year fund balances and the 2026 budget starting balances, which she said contributed to the carryover.
“These allegations have been shared with township employees, the auditing firm conducting the 24-25 biennial audit and the public,” Walder said previously. “As a result, the situation has become a significant distraction in my ability to effectively carry out my statutory responsibilities, and (has raised) concerns about my professional standing and professional and public reputation.”
Heutmaker had requested Charles E. Harris & Associates, Inc., of Independence, which audits the township’s books, review all intrafund transfers from 2024 through 2026. However, township assistant prosecuting attorney Susan Wieland advised that requisition should be rescinded because it fell outside a trustee’s duties.
Heutmaker apologized April 2 for the request and for any discomfort it caused. She said May 6 she had no comment on Walder’s resignation.
Walder previously urged the board March 30 to seek independent review by outside counsel to examine the allegations, repeating the request at an April 2 meeting.
“Such action is necessary (and) essential to ensure transparency,” she had said. “I am fully prepared to cooperate with an independent and objective third-party review that is free from bias, emotion or personal grievance, and will provide all necessary documentation to facilitate a prompt and thorough resolution.”
As of May 6, trustees have not voted to move forward with third-party counsel.
In her resignation letter, Walder also said her repeated budget and financial recommendations had been met with pushback from township officials.
“I have raised concerns, offered recommendations and sought more substantive engagement by the board. Those efforts have not resulted in meaningful change,” Walder said in the letter. “Instead, I am faced with interference, allegations, a barrage of public records requests, public misstatements regarding township finances resulting in the need to correct the record for our residents and other demands attempting to limit my voice and disrupt my ability to fulfil my statutory duties.
“This environment has undermined the effective functioning of my office and my ability to work cooperatively with our departments and the board of trustees,” she added. “Under these conditions, I am unable to carry out the duties of fiscal officer in a manner that meets my obligations to the residents of Russell Township.”
Walder said her last day will be June 5, 2026, and she will not attend further trustee meetings “to focus on the necessary statutory transition documentation for my position.”
The Russell Township Trustees will next meet at 2:30 p.m. May 7 in the Community Room at 8501 Kinsman Road.
