Auditing Dublin
A records-only review of Dublin's council votes, contracts, incentives, development decisions, audits and campaign finance.
Every claim in this series is labeled by how we know it. Record Our math Open question Records conflict How we're doing this
Key figures
As of Oct 15, 2026
3 for 3
Clean audit opinions, FY2022–FY2024, with no material weaknesses identified
Record Our story
$202.1M
Long-term obligations at the end of 2024, excluding pension and benefit liabilities
Record Source
$374.6M
Five-year capital plan for 2026–2030, covering 144 projects
Record Source
$9.8M
Largest 2026 contract, 14% over the engineer's estimate
Our math Our story
$1.3M
Incentive caps and location grants for four employers in 2026
Our math Our story
10
Recorded no votes in 2026; six were Wendy Johnson's
Our math Our story
0
Abstentions or recusals recorded in the 2026 minutes we read
Our math Details
$195 / $325
Per-source yearly contribution limits for ward and at-large candidates
Record Source
Votes and officials
On the record: who votes no on Dublin City Council
Council split on nine of its 2026 votes, most over the West Innovation District. First-year member Wendy Johnson cast six of the 10 no votes. No one recused.
Dublin City Manager Megan O'Callaghan resigns, effective Nov. 13
Council accepted the resignation 7-0 on Oct. 12. The city hasn't named an interim manager or described its search.
Money: audits, contracts and incentives
Dublin's last three audits were clean; long-term obligations stood at $202 million
Independent auditors found no material weaknesses or reportable noncompliance for 2022 through 2024. We did not find the 2025 audit in the state's database.
Dublin's biggest 2026 contract came in 14% over the estimate, and another drew one bidder
Council approved about $25.6 million in contracts, bids and grants with stated amounts this year. It skipped competitive bidding once, for festival beer.
Dublin promised up to $1.3 million to four employers this year
The agreements with Northwest Bank, John W. Danforth Co., Ruscilli Construction and InnoSource mostly pay out as payroll grows. Ohio State is buying 16.3 acres of city land for $2.93 million.
Development
Dublin rezoned 370 acres for research and industry, and took data centers off the table
Council approved the West Innovation District rezoning 5-2 on July 1, minutes after removing data centers as allowed uses 6-1. Other Ohio towns are putting the question to voters.
How we're doing this
Auditing Dublin: what we're reading, and how we label what we find
A records-only review of Dublin's council votes, contracts, incentives, audits and campaign money, with every claim tagged by how we know it.
Records we read
- Council minutes, Jan. 5 to Sept. 14, 2026 (21 meetings)City of Dublin
- Council action summaries, Sept. 28 and Oct. 12, 2026City of Dublin
- FY2022, FY2023 and FY2024 financial auditsOhio Auditor of State
- 2026–2030 capital improvements program announcementCity of Dublin
- 2025 ward candidates' campaign finance reportsCity of Dublin
- Campaign contribution limits and disclosure rules (Codified Ordinances 31.07 and 31.08)City of Dublin
- Financial disclosure filing rulesOhio Ethics Commission
- 2026 council organization, committee assignments and goalsCity of Dublin
- November 2025 official canvass (Franklin County)Franklin County Board of Elections
- City manager departure announcementCity of Dublin
Audit history
FY2024
Unmodified (clean)
FY2023
Unmodified (clean)
FY2022
Unmodified (clean)
FY2025
Open question Not found in the Auditor of State's database as of Oct 15, 2026
Questions we're still asking
- What did the city's 2025 audit find? We have not found it in the Auditor of State's database yet.
- What do council members list on their 2025 financial disclosure statements? They are public records held by the Ohio Ethics Commission, and we have not obtained them yet.
- Which vote count on the Coffman Park stone walls contract is right: the 6-1 in the approved minutes or the 7-0 in the action summary? And what did the contract cost?
- What will the public financing for Bridge North's garage, roads and fiber cost the city?
- Who will run the city after Nov. 13, and how will council choose the next city manager?
- What will recreation center Phase III cost once it is bid?
- How much property tax will the J Block exemption redirect, and to what?
Coming up
Mon, Oct 19
Tue, Oct 20
Mon, Oct 26
Thu, Nov 5 – Fri, Nov 6
Mon, Nov 9
Mon, Nov 16
Mon, Dec 7
Meetings are at City Hall, 5555 Perimeter Drive. Meeting schedule
Records read through Oct 15, 2026. Our vote records start Jan. 5, 2026. We have not yet asked officials to respond; responses will be added to each story with the date we asked. A listed vote, contribution or contract is a public record, not a finding of wrongdoing.