Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham announced this week that Second Harvest Food Bank has received Mahoning County’s share of the Family Dollar settlement for pricing irregularities.
Mahoning County’s share of the $400,000 settlement was $7,691.25.
After receiving consumer complaints from several counties’ weights and measures departments, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued Dollar General in November 2022 for allegedly advertising goods at one price and charging a higher price at checkout.
After receiving similar complaints, auditors found that Family Dollar displayed prices for certain items on store shelves but charged higher prices at checkout.
Of the $400,000 settlement amount, $250,000 was set aside for the purchase and distribution of food and personal care products by the food banks. The auditors of Ohio’s 88 counties were tasked with selecting the beneficiaries.
“Our county auditors play a critical role in ensuring Ohio retailers have fair and honest prices,” Yost said. “That’s why we work with the auditors and funnel settlement funds back into our communities.”
Meacham said he chose Second Harvest Food Bank because, as a supplier to 161 local partner agencies, it has enough money to make a difference for people across Mahoning County.
“Second Harvest Food Bank helps so many people in our county and I am extremely pleased to donate this money to such a great organization,” Meacham said.
