New Jersey’s 21 county government have “had it” with the state’s acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh, says John Donnadio, the executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties. The counties want lawmakers to put a short leash on the independent watchdog.

“The comptroller is acting as judge, prosecutor and jury all in one,” Donnadio said.

Walsh recently issued several damning reports pointing out alleged fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in Union, Hudson and Essex counties. The counties vigorously disputed some of the findings.

In a letter to legislative leaders, Donnadio claimed a YouTube clip by Walsh “attempts to evoke fear in the minds of viewers that fraud, waste and abuse is everywhere and that public financial officers are primarily responsible…” He asks lawmakers to investigate the investigator and mandate “guardrails” so counties can fully rebut accusations.

“We’d like for the Legislature to conduct a hearing on the office of the state comptroller,” Donnadio says. “We are alarmed at the fact that the comptroller has the authority to levy accusations of wrongdoing when there are disputes of facts and legal matters without due process of the law.

“If the Legislature has any questions about any of the reports that we’ve issued — including the ones that the counties are now upset about — we welcome the chance to fully engage on that. I fully stand behind the facts that are in there. And the conclusions that we reached,” Walsh said.

“We share the facts because it’s good for democracy for the public to understand where government has fallen down,” he said.

Government transparency advocates say the comptroller doesn’t prosecute, he just reports.

“They have the power to investigate, and they do it well. And they have an incredibly wonderful track record of identifying corruption and misuse of public funds,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska of New Jersey Citizen Action.

“Certainly, if the Legislature does pick up that recommendation, they will get massive resistance from this … pro-democracy movement. It will be massive,” she said.

Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union) said, “I can confirm receipt of the letter and we will give it a full review.”

“Agencies like the Office of the Comptroller — that investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse — have a vital role in our government. Due process is also an essential right.  If there are concerns about an investigation or the way it was conducted then we should convene a hearing where the findings can be reviewed and all sides can be given an opportunity to be heard,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco (R-Morris).