Members of the Butler County House delegation, consisting of Representatives Aaron Bernstine, Marci Mustello, Stephenie Scialabba, and Tim Bonner, have joined forces with the Butler County Board of Commissioners to demand a full audit of Community Partnership, Inc. This request follows concerns over a series of financial mismanagement issues discovered during an independent audit by Maher Duessel CPAs.
Representative Bernstine remarked, “These findings and interactions indicate a troubling pattern of financial mismanagement and resistance to oversight.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring that public funds are used responsibly, stating, “A full audit is the only way to ensure accountability and restore public trust.”
The audit identified several key issues: significant weaknesses in financial reporting, inadequate internal controls on cash disbursements, and noncompliance with federal grant requirements, particularly regarding the Community Services Block Grant. Concerns about interactions with elected officials were also raised, highlighting a lack of transparency and an abrupt cancellation of a scheduled oversight meeting.
Butler County Commissioner Kim Geyer commented on the issues of transparency, saying, “When elected officials are denied access to basic organizational records, it undermines the trust of the residents we serve.”
The delegation and commissioners have expressed unity in their request for Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor to conduct an exhaustive audit to uphold transparency and accountability. “This is not about politics. This is about protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring taxpayer dollars are handled with the transparency and accountability the public expects and deserves,” they stated in their letter.
Contact information for media representatives of the involved parties is provided for further inquiries.
