BAZETTA — The township’s battle with the county auditor over $160,000 in funds lost to scammers has finally reached its conclusion.

In a news release posted to social media Monday, Fiscal Officer Stacy Marling announced the township received the $80,857 from Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder, noting that the payment was court-ordered and made on the last possible date permitted under the court’s ruling.

The township also received $8,497 in statutory interest to help defray attorney fees the township incurred from legal proceedings, the release states.

“I am relieved that these funds have finally been returned, but it is disappointing that our township had to pursue legal action to recover funds that rightfully belonged to our residents. Our residents deserve better,” Marling said. “We remain committed to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and standing up for the interests of our taxpayers.”

The payment comes months after Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Sarah Thomas Kovoor ruled Yoder was to pay the township $80,857 in taxes collected by the county for police, fire, emergency medical services, local government fund taxes, gas taxes and statutory interest.

Yoder challenged the verdict, but a decision in the 11th District Court of Appeals backed it, saying state law leaves no room for excuses, even in a cybercrime.

The problem started in summer 2024, when township trustees passed a resolution allowing their fiscal officer to request early payment of 2023 second-half real estate taxes, as allowed by Ohio Revised Code.

In August 2024, the county treasurer settled accounts with the auditor for taxes collected since February. That included money owed to Bazetta. However, hackers had broken into the fiscal officer’s email when multi-factor authentication was off, the court said. Using that email, the criminals told the auditor’s office to switch the township’s deposit bank from Huntington Bank to Green Dot Bank.

An employee in the auditor’s office made the change. Over several weeks, more than $160,000 in township funds went to the fake account.

The township discovered the scam when expected payments never arrived.

Law enforcement recovered all but $80,857, broken down in the ruling as:

• Gasoline Excise Tax: $12,523

• Local Government Funds: $6,025

• House Bill 64 Supplemental Funds: $522

• Manufactured Home Tax: $1,062

• Motor Vehicle License Tax: $722

• Real Estate Tax Advance: $60,000