The auditor hired by the Schuylkill County Commissioners to aid the controller in preparing the annual financial report for the county appeared at the commissioners' public meeting Thursday and accused Controller Melinda Kantner of 'stonewalling' his efforts. She denied it, accusing the auditor, Samuel Deegan, of "not being qualified to do a county budget because never did an audit on county level, only budgets of small boroughs and municipal authorities."

The verbal exhange between Deegan and Kantner went on for almost an hour under the public comment section of the agenda. Kantner accused the commissioners of double standards, claiming she was not allowed to speak on subjects not listed on the meeting's agenda and that there is nothing on the agenda for this meeting pertaining to budget discussions.Also there were different opinions as to the duties of preparing a county financial budget. County Solicitor Eric Mika said the county code states the controller is responsible for its preparation. Mark Scarbinsky, county fiscal administrator, said the county hired Deegan to assist her in preparation of the budget. Commissioner Mantura Gallagher added that Kantner has no degree in public accounting. Kantner disagrees with their opinion. She said the auditor prepares an independent budget by going over the records she presents him.Last year, the budget was prepared by Zelenkofske Axelrod, LLC, who have done budgets for at least seven counties and when their contract expired the commissioners asked for proposals and four firms responded. Their proposals were, Samuel Deegan, CPA, P.C., 640 hours for four year contract $256,000; Maillie, Falconiero and Company, LLP, 750 hours, four year contract $272,000; Maher Duessel, CPAs, 964 hours for four year contract $401,744 and Alxelrod, 788 hours, four year contract $337,264. Deegan, the only one without county budget experience, was awarded the contract.Deegan accused Kantner that her "books were wrong" and that her staff "doesn't want to learn although I offered to help but they refused. They make no attempt to make corrections. I have been stonewalled, I was told I must ask questions in writing. I sent a large number of emails but get no answers. I suggest you (commissioners) get rid of the whole staff." He later apologized for the last statement when the union representative for the workers in the controller's office blasted him and Mark Scarbinsky for villifying the workers. Scarbinsky said, "I stand by my statement." Paul Straka, who prepared the county budget said "It is vital that I receive accurate figures."Deegan said he questioned about two million dollars which the controller couldn't explain where the money came and how much is due to be paid out and how much is yet owed the county. Mike Mehalko, auditor in the office of the controller, commented that Deegan could not grasp when he explained their is a large amount of money in escrow from sale of coal lands whose ownerships remain uncertain. Deegan claims if he can't get cooperation he will be forced to issue a disclaimer claiming he was unable to get the needed information to prepare a budtget, something he never did before.Commissioners Frank Staudenmeier tried to bring the matter to a close by advising all parties set aside their personal opinions and cooperate to get the report finished. He added he knows that the people in the controller's office are good people and during the period he chaired the board of commissioners budget by the controller's office were prepared on time.