City Auditor Vacancy

This form is for residents to apply for the vacancy created by the departure of Columbus City Auditor Megan Kilgore.

About the role

Per the City Charter, “The auditor shall be the city's chief accounting officer. The auditor shall keep, in accurate, systemized detail a record of the receipts, disbursements, assets and liabilities of the city, and the recorded facts shall be presented periodically to officials and to the public in such summaries and analytical schedules as shall be necessary to show the full effect of such transactions for each fiscal year upon the finances of the city and in relation to each department of the city government, including distinct summaries and schedules for each public utility owned or operated.”

You can read more about the role of the City Auditor and how it functions in the 21st century here and here.

This is a full-time role. In 2026, the role pays $248,345, which is set by a City Charter-driven process and reviewed every four years.

Beyond its functions for citywide oversight, the office of the City Auditor itself includes 100+ FTE and directly manages a $20 million annual budget. Per the Charter, the City Auditor must be a registered voter who shall, at all times during the term of office, maintain residence in the city of Columbus. 

City Code requires the Auditor to complete continuing education upon assuming the role and ongoing.

About the vacancy

The City Charter says: “If the auditor dies, resigns, is removed from office, ceases to hold any qualification for office, or the office is otherwise vacated during the term, a successor in office shall be appointed by council to serve until the first day of January following the next regular municipal election.” That means:

  • Whoever Council appoints will finish out the first two years of Kilgore’s term to which she was elected in November 2025, serving until January 1, 2028.
  • To complete the final two years of the term, candidates for City Auditor (including that appointee) could file to run in 2027, concurrent with other municipal elections
  • 2029 would then feature an election for a new, full, four-year term to begin in 2030.

Council may publicize the list of applicants and their materials. Candidates are advised that their submissions are a matter of public record.

 

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