Summit County Fiscal Office

John A. Donofrio became Summit County Fiscal Officer on June 17, 2002 after serving as county treasurer for 23 years.  Because of Summit County’s unique Charter form of government, the offices of county auditor, county recorder and county treasurer were eliminated; those duties transferred to the Fiscal Officer.

It is this office that bills for real estate taxes, assesses real property for tax purposes, certifies that funds are available for payment before any county contract or obligation is made and files and records legal documents.

During his terms as county treasurer, John strived to make his office more resourceful and responsive to the needs of taxpayers by introducing and implementing new and innovative tax collection programs.  He has been a forerunner in making changes which have set the standard in Treasury Management throughout the State of Ohio. The Ohio Legislature later passed four laws allowing the rest of Ohio’s 87 counties to create their own tax collection programs.

John, along with other county and state officials, worked hard to get House Bill 371 passed in 1997; the law allows county treasurers in the twelve largest counties to sell tax certificates on delinquent properties to private parties by public auction.  Summit County is the first county to offer a tax certificate lien sale where the full amount of delinquent taxes owed on a property are collected.  His first sale took place in October 1998 and Donofrio has now has collected over $62 million in delinquent taxes.

A recipient of six awards from the National Association of Counties, a former President of the Ohio Treasurer's Association and a former State Director for the National Association of Treasurers and Finance Officers, John knows how to handle leadership roles. Donofrio is the only county treasurer in Ohio who gives real estate taxpayers a discount on their property taxes; he is the first county treasurer to reduce the interest rate on bank loans for qualified businesses at 3% below the current borrowing rate, and was the first county treasurer to provide monthly payments for delinquent taxes and to offer monthly budgeting for current taxes. In addition to his Business Linked Deposit Program, Donofrio offers a Residential Linked Deposit Program for homeowners to receive a 3% reduced interest rate for home improvement loans.

John has been recognized by state and national organizations for his efforts and accomplishments throughout his years in office.  In 2007, Donofrio’s Weights & Measures Department received the prestigious Frank P. Gallo Award for excellence from the Ohio Weights and Measures Association and John was awarded a NACo Achievement Award for his Fuel Quality Testing Program, another first in the state of Ohio.

First appointed to the Summit County treasurer’s office in 1979, John won the election for his first term in 1980, continued to be re-elected and has dedicated the last 30+  years to serving the citizens of Summit County.

John resides in Akron with his wife Marijean.  They have five grown children and six grandchildren. John graduated from Ellet High School, served 3 ½ years in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged.