Community Partnership’s location in Franklin Township is pictured above. The nonprofit moved there in July. Butler Eagle File Photo

Butler County officials are calling for an audit of Community Partnership, a nonprofit that was previously stripped of county food assistance programs.

In a Wednesday, April 23, news release, seven county and state officials called for a full audit following “a pattern of financial mismanagement, transparency failures and violations of federal grant requirements.”

The request was submitted to state Auditor Tim DeFoor after an independent audit uncovered a series of “critical failures in the organization’s financial reporting and oversight practices,” according to the release.

The news release was signed by state representatives Marci Mustello, R-11th, Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, and Tim Bonner, R-17th. The release said they were joining the Butler County Commissioners — Leslie Osche, Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel — in calling for the full audit.

In May 2024, county commissioners transferred the county food assistance programs from Community Partnership, which had run the program for the previous two years, to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Programs included were the Emergency Food Assistance and the State Food Purchase programs.

The nonprofit had run the program for the last two years from a county-owned building on McCune Drive. Following the change, the nonprofit moved to the former Artisan Restaurant building at 781 New Castle Road in Franklin Township.

Several key concerns were identified in the independent audit, done by Maher Duessel CPAs, the news release said.

Butler County officials said there was an inadequate separation of duties. From January to June of 2023, the executive director of the nonprofit had primary control over cash disbursements, receipts and payroll, “violating basic internal control standards and exposing the organization to errors and potential fraud.”

Officials also said Community Partnership didn’t comply with federal grant requirements. They claim the organization violated federal law by obligating $36,853 outside the allowable period and operating without a compliant Tri-Partite board, violating the Community Services Block Grant program.

Reporting of finances also was a concern, according to Butler County officials. They said Community Partnership’s financial statements failed to comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, requiring “major adjustments to correct net assets, cash, receivables, payables, revenue and expenses.”

In addition to the recent independent audit, interactions between Community Partnership and elected officials also has been a cause for concern — the officials say there has been a lack of transparency.

They claim County Commissioner and former board chairwoman Kim Geyer was denied access to the organization’s 2024 annual reports, “without explanation.” Officials say this raises “serious questions” about the organization’s openness and accountability to the public.

“When elected officials are denied access to basic organizational records, it undermines the trust of the residents we serve,” Geyer said in the news release. “A thorough audit is essential to restore confidence in Community Partnership, Inc.’s operations.”

Another instance cited in the release was the cancellation of an oversight meeting between Bernstine and executive director Sandy Curry, who the officials say claimed there was “no need to meet.”

“These findings and interactions indicate a troubling pattern of financial mismanagement and resistance to oversight,” Bernstine said in the news release. “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.”

In a letter sent to DeFoor, the delegation of Butler county officials said the purpose of the audit request was “about protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring taxpayer dollars are handled with the transparency and accountability the public expects and deserves.”

Curry said she couldn’t comment because she “doesn’t know what (the officials) are looking for.”