MARION—Deputy Auditor Marden Watts of the Marion City Auditor’s office sent a notice to city council members on Wednesday that the first penalties have been sanctioned against Marion as a result of monies sent to the wrong agencies.
Marion City Auditor Robert Landon III authorized more than a million dollars to be sent to the state department of Ohio when the payments were supposed to be sent to the Internal Revenue Service. Landon sent the monies from a cash account without authorization from the council.
The monies represent three-quarters of federal withholding taxes.
According to the memo sent to the Marion City Council, the IRS leveled $66,217.34 in interest and penalties for the third quarter. Penalties for the other two quarters have not been received.
In a memo, Watts told the council:
“The Auditor’s office have sent an appeal and asked that the IRS to combine the 3rd and 4th quarter 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 together. We have also sent documentation showing that the payments were sent timely except they were sent to the state of Ohio instead.” Watts wrote.
Watts went on to say the city had asked for complete forgiveness and if that could not be granted that a one-time abatement be given. A waiver may be given at the discretion of the IRS as a one-time forgiveness for failure to pay the taxes owed.
Amid calls by council President Ayers Ratliff for a state investigation into the Auditor’s practices, Landon insists he did nothing wrong not only in this instance but when the city fell victim to a phone scam. Nevertheless, Landon told the council he would do the same thing again if the situation presented itself.
Landon has refused to answer questions submitted by the council about his knowledge of general practices and his specific job duties.
