Members of the Butler County House delegation, including Representatives Aaron Bernstine, Marci Mustello, Stephenie Scialabba, and Tim Bonner, have joined forces with the Butler County Board of Commissioners to request a full audit of Community Partnership, Inc. This action is in response to concerns of financial mismanagement, transparency failures, and violations of federal grant requirements.
The formal request has been submitted to Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor following an independent audit by Maher Duessel CPAs, which revealed critical issues in the organization’s financial management and oversight practices. Representative Bernstine emphasized the need for accountability: “These findings and interactions indicate a troubling pattern of financial mismanagement and resistance to oversight. Our constituents deserve assurance public funds are being used responsibly to support vital community programs. When taxpayer dollars are at stake, there is no room for secrecy or sloppiness. A full audit is the only way to ensure accountability and restore public trust.”
Concerns noted in the audit report include material weaknesses in financial reporting, non-compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and inadequate segregation of duties by the executive director, violating internal control standards. Additionally, violations of the Community Services Block Grant were identified, along with a lack of a compliant Tri-Partite board as required by federal law.
Further issues have been raised regarding the organization’s transparency, including a denial of access to annual reports for Butler County Commissioner Kim Geyer, and the abrupt cancellation of a scheduled oversight meeting by Community Partnership, Inc.’s Executive Director Sandra Curry. Commissioner Geyer remarked, “When elected officials are denied access to basic organizational records, it undermines the trust of the residents we serve. A thorough audit is essential to restore confidence in Community Partnership, Inc.’s operations.”
The initiative by the Butler County delegation and commissioners aims to ensure a comprehensive audit into the organization’s financial practices, compliance with regulations, and operational integrity. The delegation and commissioners collectively stated, “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.”
Requests for further information can be directed to media contacts associated with the representatives.
