How we got here: Ledger-Enquirer’s reporting on the Columbus finance investigation
A Columbus finance investigation revealed deep conflicts over how much revenue the city failed to collect. Initial audits cited a shortfall as high as $45 million, while city leaders maintained it was closer to $2.5 million.
Reports found the occupational tax office overwhelmed by stacks of unprocessed checks, backlogged license applications, and shifting estimates from both the internal auditor and outside firms such as Troutman Pepper.
Recent updates showed the city had improved collection processes, but concerns and a criminal investigation remain unfinished, with charges filed against some staff and ongoing questions about possible cover-ups.
Amid continued distrust, options like outsourcing the business license department and expanding automation are under consideration to prevent similar problems in the future.
NO. 1: WITH AUDIT PENDING, COLUMBUS COUNCIL DEMANDS REPORT ON CITY BUSINESS LICENSE BACKLOG
Councilors said the city business license office has fallen behind in collecting license fees by failing to send out renewal notices, so some businesses have not renewed licenses for years. | Published October 30, 2023 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 2: HOW MUCH REVENUE HAS COLUMBUS FAILED TO COLLECT? THE ESTIMATES VARY WIDELY
An auditor says Columbus is $45.1 million behind on collecting business license taxes. The finance director says it’s only $2.5 million. | Published December 5, 2023 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 3: NEW REPORT ON COLUMBUS MISSING BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUE SPARKS CONFLICT AND ACCUSATIONS
One councilor said the city by law cannot collect on delinquent business license accounts if the debt’s more than four years old. “It’s gone. You can’t get that money back,” he said. | Published January 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 4: MAYOR ASKS SHERIFF TO INVESTIGATE INFORMATION SHARED FROM COLUMBUS FINANCE DEPARTMENT
The mayor says probe is about a private citizen erroneously getting personal information on a business the city manager owned. But some city workers fear it’s about outing whistleblowers. | Published January 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tim Chitwood
NO. 5: COLUMBUS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES UNDER POSSIBLE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, LETTER FROM DA SHOWS
The letter obtained by the Ledger-Enquirer doesn’t list the names of the CCG employees but identifies three of the employees by title. | Published August 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 6: COLUMBUS GOVERNMENT HR DIRECTOR MAINTAINS INNOCENCE AMID INVESTIGATION. HERE’S THE LATEST
An attorney representing Reather Hollowell, the Columbus Consolidated Government’s human resources director, released a statement Wednesday saying she has no involvement in the possible wrongdoing. | Published August 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison
NO. 7: COULD COLUMBUS OUTSOURCE BUSINESS LICENSES? CITY LOOKS AT OPTIONS AFTER TAX MONEY WAS LOST
Columbus Council still has concerns about the finance department after going through a follow-up report on the revenue division. | Published November 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee
NO. 8: WAS THERE A ‘COVER-UP’ IN COLUMBUS FINANCE DEPARTMENT? CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SEEKS ANSWER
District Attorney of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit Jonathan Adams provides an update to the criminal investigation into the Columbus Finance Department. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee
NO. 9: 2 FACE CHARGES, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO COLUMBUS FINANCE DEPARTMENT NOT OVER
An investigative document provided to the Ledger-Enquirer shows additional charges have been recommended for four city employees. | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brittany McGee Kelby Hutchison
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.