Franklin County prosecutor refutes child care fraud claims, opposes state takeover

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor on Tuesday forcefully rebutted claims that her office has been unwilling to prosecute child care fraud, pushing back against state legislation that would transfer that authority to the Ohio Attorney General.

Speaking during a point of personal privilege at the Franklin County Board of Commissioners meeting, Favor said State Rep. Josh Williams mischaracterized her office’s record when he testified last week in support of House Bill 649. The bill would strip elected county prosecutors of their authority to handle child care fraud cases.

“This characterization is false,” Favor told commissioners. “This office has prosecuted fraud aggressively and without hesitation whenever cases have been properly referred to us.”

Favor noted that following the COVID-19 pandemic, her office indicted approximately 50 cases involving pandemic relief fraud, with amounts ranging from $24,000 to $7 million. She said the office has not declined a single properly referred case.

“A prosecutor cannot charge what a prosecutor has never received,” Favor said. “In 2025, this office received zero referrals for child care fraud. We did not decline a case. We did not deprioritize a case. We were never given a case to act on.”

Favor said the legislation would weaken local accountability and urged residents to submit testimony before a committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The commissioners also approved a series of resolutions, including five Safe Routes to School projects in Madison Township funded entirely by state dollars. All five resolutions passed unanimously.

In a 2-0-1 vote, with Commissioner Kevin Boyce abstaining, the board approved an $11.9 million tenant construction agreement with NMRD3 Limited for improvements at the Board of Elections property on Morris Road. The project will convert a former retail space into poll worker training areas.

Boyce also abstained from a companion resolution authorizing financing for the project through the Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority, with estimated annual payments of $1.1 million to $1.2 million through 2038.

Before the vote on the elections-related resolutions, Boyce criticized the federal SAVE Act, calling it a partisan election bill that would restrict voting access.

“It is only good for the Republican party,” Boyce said. “It is only good for the president and his ability to keep a majority.”

Other approved items included a $378,000 contract with Franklin County Probate Court for adult guardianship services, a one-year extension of interpretation services contracts for the Office on Aging totaling up to $200,000, and reappointments of Mallerie Donaldson and Erica Clark Jones to the Central Ohio Transit Authority Board of Trustees.

Commissioners also approved two annexation petitions from Madison Township to the city of Groveport, covering a total of 4.25 acres.

Key moments

Contentious

Prosecutor defends office against fraud prosecution claims

This office has prosecuted fraud aggressively and without hesitation whenever cases have been properly referred to us.

Significant General Session - March 17, 2026 · 28:35

Commissioner Boyce comments on SAVE Act

This is a sham of an election bill... it is only good for the Republican party.

Significant

Board of Elections training space construction approved

These improvements would transform a former retail spot... into poll worker training spaces for the board of elections.

Full analysis

Show structured analysis

Meeting Analysis

Franklin County (OH) — 2026-03-17

Meeting Information

Title: General Session - March 17, 2026

Parish: Franklin County (OH)

Date: 2026-03-17

Video: Recording

Transcript segments: 961

Item	Description	Action	Vote Status
Prosecutor's point of personal privilege on child care fraud prosecution	Prosecutor Shayla Favor clarified that her office has not declined any properly referred child care fraud cases, contrary to claims made by State Rep. Josh Williams in support of House Bill 649, which would transfer prosecution authority to the Ohio Attorney General.	Statement made; no vote taken.	No action
Safe Routes to School resolutions (154-158-26)	Five resolutions to establish, alter, and widen roads in Madison Township for safe routes to schools projects, funded 100% by state dollars.	All five resolutions adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Appointment of Environmental Design Group for Cassidy Avenue project	Resolution 159-26 appoints Environmental Design Group LLC to provide appraisal and real property acquisition services for the Cassidy Avenue improvement project at a cost of $182,350.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Disposition of obsolete county equipment	Resolution 160-26 authorizes the engineer to dispose of obsolete vehicles and equipment via internet auction, after offering to local agencies.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Office on Aging interpretation services contract extension	Resolution 161-26 extends contracts with three interpretation service providers for one year at a total cost not to exceed $200,000.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Adult guardianship services contract with Probate Court	Resolution 162-26 approves a contract with Franklin County Probate Court for adult guardianship services in the amount of $378,000.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Mattress and bedding services contract extension	Resolution 163-26 extends and modifies the contract with Mac Mattress Outlet for mattress and bedding services, total not to exceed $150,000.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Annexation petitions for Groveport (164-26 and 165-26)	Two expedited type 2 annexation petitions from Madison Township to the city of Groveport, covering 3.18 acres and 1.07 acres respectively.	Both adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Elevator maintenance contract extension with Otis Elevator	Resolution 166-26 extends the elevator maintenance contract with Otis Elevator Company for one year at a firm fixed price.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Bulk purchase orders (167-26 and 168-26)	Two resolutions approving 76 purchase orders totaling $1,252,573.31 and 7 purchase orders totaling $150,715.31.	Both adopted; Commissioner Boyce abstained on 168-26.	167-26: Unanimous (3-0); 168-26: 2-0-1 (Boyce abstained)
Board of Elections tenant construction agreement	Resolution 169-26 authorizes a tenant construction agreement with NMRD3 Limited for improvements at the Board of Elections property on Morris Road, converting a former retail space into poll worker training areas, cost not to exceed $11.9 million.	Adopted with Commissioner Boyce abstaining.	2-0-1 (Boyce abstained)
Financing for Board of Elections improvements	Resolution 170-26 authorizes a term sheet and documents with Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority to finance the Board of Elections improvements, with estimated annual payments of $1.1-1.2 million through 2038.	Adopted with Commissioner Boyce abstaining.	2-0-1 (Boyce abstained)
Reappointments to COTA Board of Trustees	Resolutions 171-26 and 172-26 reappoint Mallerie Donaldson and Erica Clark Jones to the Central Ohio Transit Authority Board of Trustees for terms ending March 31, 2029.	Both adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)
Appointment to ADAMH Board	Resolution 173-26 appoints Angelina Vega to the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services Board for a term ending June 30, 2029.	Adopted unanimously.	Unanimous (3-0)

Safe Routes to School projects: 100% state-funded, no local cost.
Cassidy Avenue project: $182,350 for appraisal and right-of-way services.
Office on Aging interpretation services: $200,000 total across three vendors.
Adult guardianship services: $378,000 contract with Probate Court.
Mattress and bedding services: $150,000 contract extension.
Board of Elections improvements: $11.9 million tenant construction, financed via Columbus Franklin County Finance Authority with estimated annual payments of $1.1-1.2 million through 2038.
Bulk purchase orders: $1,252,573.31 (76 POs) and $150,715.31 (7 POs).

Public Concerns: none noted.

Prosecutor Favor disputed claims by State Rep. Josh Williams that her office is unwilling to prosecute child care fraud, calling the characterization false and defending local prosecutorial authority against House Bill 649.

Engineer

Five Safe Routes to School resolutions adopted for Madison Township.
Environmental Design Group appointed for Cassidy Avenue project.
Disposition of obsolete equipment authorized.

Office on Aging

Interpretation services contract extended for $200,000.
Adult guardianship services contract approved for $378,000.
Mattress and bedding contract extended for $150,000.

Economic Development and Planning

Two annexation petitions from Madison Township to Groveport approved.

Public Facilities Management

Elevator maintenance contract with Otis Elevator extended.

Purchasing

76 purchase orders totaling $1,252,573.31 approved.
7 purchase orders totaling $150,715.31 approved (Commissioner Boyce abstained).

Board of Commissioners

Tenant construction agreement for Board of Elections approved.
Financing term sheet for Board of Elections improvements approved.
Reappointments to COTA Board and appointment to ADAMH Board approved.

Office on Aging to provide list of languages covered by interpretation services to the board.
County administrator to execute tenant construction agreement with NMRD3 Limited after final details are completed.
Office of Management and Budget to work with Baker Art Tilly to determine appropriate financing structure for Board of Elections improvements, targeting mid-April closing.