Cincinnati Financial Mismanagement: What the City’s Own Audits Reveal About Leadership and Accountability

The shocking report and confirmation of Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval’s private vehicle repossession should concern every citizen and taxpayer of Cincinnati. This incident adds to worries about Cincinnati financial mismanagement, raising questions about leadership accountability.

The elected leadership of Cincinnati is trusted to have the expertise to balance a budget with complex and nuanced layers to meet the needs of the city.

There must be a level of financial integrity in order to ensure there is not an open and obvious invitation for financial corruption, or worse; a national security risk. At a time when concerns about Cincinnati financial mismanagement continue to rise, these issues cannot be ignored.

The Role of Financial Integrity in Public Leadership

There is a reason many sensitive government jobs require the employee to maintain a security clearance, as well as careers in the financial industry. There are members of the enlisted Armed Forces who cannot have defaults, bankruptcies, repossessions, or be in arrears with child support. If any of those things occur, they will likely lose their clearance because of the risk to national security. Cincinnati’s financial mismanagement could reflect on the larger scale issues impacting public confidence.

Most members in the financial industry who hold licensed positions also have to certify their financial integrity every six months. There is a reason these parameters and guidelines exist. Financial instability is an invitation for corruption.

A Pattern of Corruption and Broken Trust in Cincinnati

The history of financial corruption and mismanagement in recent years is well documented and abundant in Cincinnati. Jeff Pastor is seeking a presidential pardon to potentially re-enter Cincinnati politics per an interview with WCPO 9 in November of 2025. Tamaya Dennard is listed on the non-profit Represent Women website as a Programs and Partnership manager. The amount of money allotted to non-profits directly in the city budget is problematic given their lack of accountability and continued obvious need of oversight on the funds. This situation is symptomatic of Cincinnati financial mismanagement, illustrating the ongoing issues with allocating public resources efficiently.

P.G. Sittenfeld has been pardoned by President Trump after taking bribes from undercover federal officers during his time in city council, and is currently seeking an appeal on his case. Financial mismanagement impacts every taxpayer. The promises made to the residents cannot be kept without integrity. Mayor Aftab made promises during his election campaign to rebuild trust in 2021, however that trust has not been earned.

City Audits Show Clear Signs of Cincinnati Financial Mismanagement

An audit report by the city examining the Lead Pipe program has clear concerns of mismanagement for personal gain, and the improper disposal and containment of toxic lead. This is directly harmful to the residents of Cincinnati. 

The responsibility of the accountability lies with the City Manager, Sheryl Long, to ensure compliance with the audit reports. The WIC audit reports have high fraud risk indicators as well.  Our city’s own reports show we are susceptible to financial fraud. The last thing we need is to wave the repossession flag by our Mayor himself.

Financial Burdens Passed to Residents

The recent verdict of 8.1 million dollars to the protestors who violated curfew comes directly out of the city budget, not an insurance policy. The city manager Sheryl Long called it a “good financial decision” per an article written by J.D. Davidson.

Both the county and the city were involved in the lawsuit, however, the county is only contributing 65 thousand dollars. Per the last budget meeting on 12/8/2025 with the City Council sales taxes were down 35% from this time last year. Country wide economic strain is not the only reason to blame, concerns of safety with high crime drive many local residents across the river to spend their dollars especially after the escalated gun violence. Such financial strain reflects poorly on how Cincinnati manages its finances, highlighting inefficiencies and mismanagement.

The consultant the city pays to partner with crime is Iris Roley who has a city contract which exceeds $500,000.  There is an outstanding public records request by Todd Zinser, a retired Inspector General which has been pending since August of 2025.

There appears to be a need for a financial deep dive investigation as the burden on financial management is shifted to the residents and tax-payers. The city is bleeding the residents dry of funds and empathy for their lack of accountability. The city’s proposed plan to increase revenue? Include a 1% dining tax.

A Call for Accountability in Cincinnati Financial Mismanagement

These are financial concerns that need leadership, oversight and accountability. It is about time someone took a look at all the nonprofits who are taking city funds and not delivering care to the parties they promise to support.

We need to examine the contracts and record high salaries, like Sheryl Long who has a salary of $319k a year. She carries the burden to ensure compliance.

The residents of Cincinnati deserve to enjoy Cincinnati without the burden of investigating financial crimes and mismanagement. We deserve to enjoy a safe city with police who are empowered to keep us safe. The city’s lack of financial accountability is a risk to us all, illustrating the broader issues of Cincinnati’s financial mismanagement.

Sources

• Cincinnati police union urges firing of consultant over alleged interference
• City Budget Finance Meeting
• Cincinnati settles with protesters for George Floyd-protest arrests
• City Manager Sheryl Long got a raise this year. How much money does she make?
• Tamaya Dennard – Programs and Partnerships Manager
• Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval says he had car repossessed last year ‘due to my carelessness’
• Cincinnati consultant Iris Roley hired son for Government Square job that paid $4,400 a month from city funds
• Ex-Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor planning political comeback after release from prison
• Nearly 30 Downtown restaurants, bars adding fee to build convention hotel

Supporting Documents (Full PDFs)

• Lead Pipe Investigation Report (2025) — Full internal investigation

• Iris Roley Contract Amendment (2025) — Contract terms & compensation

• Lead Pipe Audit (2025) — Official city audit findings

• WIC Audit (2025) — Official city audit findings