JobsOhio Turns Over Finance Records And Refunds Public Money

Ohio's private nonprofit job creation agency says it has turned over its private financial records to the state auditor to comply with a subpoena. The agency also says it will refund the $1 million in start-up funds it received from the State of Ohio in 2011. The Jobs Ohio Beverage System (JOBS) will also refund any grant dollars it received since July 2011. JobsOhio spokeswoman Laura Jones said the records were delivered Tuesday ahead of a noon deadline. The agency complied despite continuing to maintain that Republican Auditor Dave Yost doesn't have legal authority to audit the private side of the fledgling agency's books. Yost says Ohio law gives him the right to review private financial records with ties to public funds. JobsOhio was created by Ohio Gov. John Kasich to "move at the speed of business." It received $1 million in taxpayer dollars as start-up money and has gone to market with a $1.5 billion bond sale backed by rights to Ohio's liquor business.