Legal Documents

Effective Date: February 15, 2026

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how information is collected, used, and disclosed when you visit www.ohiocitizensaudit.org (the "Site").

1. Information Collected Automatically (Server Logs)

While this Site does not explicitly ask for or collect personal information (such as names or email addresses) via contact forms or user accounts, certain information is collected automatically by the hosting infrastructure (GoDaddy/Plesk).

When you access the Site, the server automatically records "Log Files." These include:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) addresses
  • Browser type and version
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP)
  • Date and time stamps
  • Referring/exit pages
  • Number of clicks

This data is used to analyze trends, administer the site, track user movement, and gather demographic information. This information is not linked to any information that is personally identifiable to you.

2. Cookies and Web Beacons

This Site uses "cookies" to enhance user experience and provide specific functionality.

  • Google Maps: We use Google Maps to provide interactive geographical data. Google may set cookies to remember your preferences and track usage behavior when you interact with the map.
  • Google AdSense: We use Google AdSense to serve advertisements. Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this Site and/or other sites on the Internet.

3. Third-Party Privacy Policies

This Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. We advise you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party services for more detailed information. This includes:

4. Data Transparency and Sources

The data presented on this Site is collected via automated web scraping of publicly available government websites. We do not alter the underlying public records, nor do we collect personal data from individuals mentioned within those records for marketing purposes. This information is provided for transparency and informational purposes only.

5. Children’s Information

Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We do not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.

6. Consent

By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

Last Updated: February 24, 2026

Terms and Conditions

Welcome to www.ohiocitizensaudit.org (the "Site"). By accessing or using this Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1. Purpose of the Site

The Site is intended to provide transparency and public access to government-related data. Ohio Citizens Audit is an independent organization and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a representative of any government agency, including the State of Ohio or its local municipalities.

2. Data Source and Accuracy

  • Third-Party Data: The information presented on this Site is collected via automated web scraping of public government records.
  • "As Is" Basis: We provide this data for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information. Because the data originates from third-party sources, any errors in the original government records will be reflected here.
  • Not Official Records: This Site should not be used as a substitute for official government documents or audits. For legal or official purposes, please consult the original government source.

3. Intellectual Property

  • Our Content: The Site’s design, layout, code (ASP.NET/HTML/CSS), and original analysis are the property of Ohio Citizens Audit.
  • Scraped Data: We claim no ownership over the raw public records or government data displayed. We respect the public domain nature of these records.
  • Embedded Media: Video, audio, or other media embedded from third-party platforms (such as YouTube) remains the exclusive property of its respective copyright holders. We claim no ownership over this material, and its display is subject to the terms of service of the hosting platform.

4. Prohibited Uses

When using this Site, you agree not to:

  • Use the Site in any way that violates local, state, or federal law.
  • Attempt to "scrape" or harvest data from this Site for commercial resale without express written permission.
  • Use our data to harass, threaten, or misidentify individuals.
  • Interfere with the Site's security or hosting infrastructure (GoDaddy/Plesk).

5. No Professional Advice

The data and analysis provided on this Site do not constitute legal, financial, or professional auditing advice. Decisions made based on the information provided are at the user's sole risk.

6. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Ohio Citizens Audit shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages resulting from your use of the Site or your reliance on any data presented, even if the data is found to be incorrect or misleading. We are not liable for any temporary unavailability of the Site due to technical issues beyond our control, including server outages or third-party service disruptions.

7. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. Any legal disputes arising from the use of this Site shall be handled in the courts located within Ohio.

8. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of those changes.

Last Updated: February 15, 2026

No Professional Advice Disclaimer

1. For Informational Purposes Only

All content, data, analysis, and graphics found on www.ohiocitizensaudit.org (the "Site") are provided for general informational and educational purposes only. The information is provided "as is" and should not be construed as professional advice of any kind.

2. No Auditor-Client Relationship

Your use of this Site, including the viewing of scraped data, analysis reports, or interactive maps, does not create an auditor-client, attorney-client, or any other professional relationship between you and Ohio Citizens Audit.

3. Not a Substitute for Professional Counsel

The "audits" or data interpretations presented on this Site are based on automated data collection and independent analysis. They are not official government audits, certified financial statements, or legal opinions. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information on this Site without seeking the appropriate professional advice from a:

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for financial or auditing matters.
  • Licensed Attorney for legal or regulatory matters.
  • Official Government Representative for the verification of public records.

4. Accuracy and Reliability

While we strive to provide accurate data scraped from government sources, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

5. Limitation of Liability

In no event will Ohio Citizen's Audit be liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided on this Site.

Last Updated: February 24, 2026

Ohio Citizen's Audit ("we," "our," or "us") respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects our users to do the same. In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, the text of which may be found on the U.S. Copyright Office website at http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf, we will respond expeditiously to claims of copyright infringement committed using the www.ohiocitizensaudit.org website (the "Site") that are reported to our Designated Copyright Agent.

Our Site frequently aggregates public government records and embeds third-party media for civic transparency and educational purposes. If you are a copyright owner, or are authorized to act on behalf of one, and you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please report your notice of infringement to us by providing our Designated Copyright Agent with the following information:

1. The DMCA Takedown Notice

To file a copyright infringement notification with us, you will need to send a written communication that includes substantially the following:

  • A Physical or Electronic Signature: The signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
  • Identification of the Copyrighted Work: A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed. If multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, provide a representative list of such works.
  • Identification of the Infringing Material: A description of the material that you claim is infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity. This must include the exact URL(s) or a reasonably sufficient description to permit us to locate the material on our Site.
  • Contact Information: Information reasonably sufficient to permit us to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an email address.
  • Good Faith Statement: A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law (including Fair Use).
  • Statement of Accuracy: A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

2. Designated Copyright Agent

Please submit your DMCA Takedown Notice to our Designated Copyright Agent at:

Name/Title: Copyright Agent, Ohio Citizen's Audit
Email Address: support@ohiocitizensaudit.org

Please note that under Section 512(f) of the DMCA, any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that material or activity is infringing may be subject to liability for damages.

3. DMCA Counter-Notice Procedure

If you believe that material you posted or embedded on the Site was removed or access to it was disabled by mistake or misidentification, you may file a counter-notification with us by submitting written notification to our copyright agent designated above. Your counter-notice must include:

  • Your physical or electronic signature.
  • An identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or access disabled.
  • Adequate information by which we can contact you (including your name, postal address, telephone number, and, if available, email address).
  • A statement under penalty of perjury by you that you have a good faith belief that the material identified above was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled.
  • A statement that you will consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which your address is located (or if you reside outside the United States for any judicial district in which the Site may be found) and that you will accept service from the person (or an agent of that person) who provided the Site with the complaint at issue.

4. Repeat Infringer Policy

In accordance with the DMCA and other applicable law, Ohio Citizen's Audit has adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances and at our sole discretion, the access of users, scrapers, or contributors who are deemed to be repeat infringers. We may also at our sole discretion limit access to the Site for any users who infringe any intellectual property rights of others, whether or not there is any repeat infringement.

Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Data Correction & Removal Policy

Ohio Citizen's Audit ("we," "our," or "us") is dedicated to civic transparency. To fulfill this mission, our website automatically aggregates and republishes public government records. Because these records are a matter of public interest and are legally obtained from public domains, our general policy is to leave the historical record intact.

However, we recognize that government data can contain errors, and legal statuses can change. This policy outlines the specific circumstances under which we will correct, redact, or remove data from ohiocitizensaudit.org.

1. What We Will Not Remove

Because our platform serves as a mirror for public records, we generally will not remove names, addresses, or other information simply because an individual wishes to maintain their privacy. If the data was legally published by a government entity as a public record, it will remain on our site unless it meets one of the specific exceptions below.

2. Grounds for Correction or Removal

We will review requests for data correction, redaction, or removal under the following circumstances:

  • Scraping or Technical Errors: If our automated systems incorrectly extracted, formatted, or matched data, resulting in a misrepresentation of the original public record.
  • Expunged or Sealed Records: If an Ohio court has legally sealed or expunged a criminal or civil record under the Ohio Revised Code, and you provide a copy of the official court order.
  • Government Retraction or Correction: If the original government agency that produced the record has issued a formal correction, redaction, or retraction of the document.
  • Sensitive Personal Information (PII): If the government source inadvertently published highly sensitive data (such as full Social Security Numbers, financial account numbers, or minor children's names) in violation of their own redaction protocols.

3. How to Submit a Request

To ensure all requests are handled properly and legally, we do not accept data removal or correction requests via social media (including Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or X). All requests must be submitted in writing to our designated privacy team.

Please email your request to: support@ohiocitizensaudit.org

Your request must include:

  1. Your full legal name and contact information.
  2. The exact URL(s) on ohiocitizensaudit.org where the data appears.
  3. A specific description of the data you are asking to be corrected or removed.
  4. The reason for the request (e.g., Expunged Record, Technical Error).
  5. Supporting Documentation: You must include proof to support your claim (e.g., a PDF of the official court order sealing the record, or a link to the corrected government database).

4. Review Process

Once we receive a complete request with supporting documentation, our team will review the claim within 14 business days.

  1. If the request is based on a technical error on our end, we will correct it immediately.
  2. If the request is based on an expungement or government correction, we will verify the documentation and, upon verification, remove or redact the data from our live database.

We reserve the right to deny requests that lack sufficient proof or seek to obscure valid public records.