Commissioners Mike Helm and Dan DeLozier said a communication breakdown, not politics, left budget-maker Bill Turner hanging and delayed the start of the county budget process.

Commissioner Kirt Thacker did not return phone calls asking for a comment.

Helm and Thacker questioned Turner about his experience working for Craig, Delaware and Ottawa Counties but failed to second DeLozier’s motion to hire Turner to do the county budget for fiscal year 2008-2009.

Helm said later that he wanted to interview Turner “one-on-one.” He thought he had made that clear last week when the agenda item to hire Turner was tabled. No meeting was set last week. Helm said he was scheduled to meet with Turner this week.

DeLozier said he had not understood that the other commissioners wanted private sessions with Turner. Because the item was tabled last week, it automatically came on this week’s agenda. DeLozier asked Turner to come to the meeting to answer any questions the other commissioners might have.

Turner has been preparing the Craig County budget since 1978. He has worked on the Delaware and Ottawa budgets for about 15 years and was recently hired to prepare the Washington County budget. His firm is one of four that contributed to establishing the current format, and he has been asked for input as technology has changed reporting systems, he said.

Asked about the sales tax by Helm, Turner said every one of the counties he works for has a sales tax but each handles how that tax is budgeted differently. He also does the budget for the Rogers County Health Department and is familiar with Rogers County’s system. He does the budget for Sequoyah schools as well.

Turner was recommended by other counties, local health department officials, and Assessor Melissa Anderson.

DeLozier said proximity and availability played into his decision to consider Turner for the job. Last year, elected county officials felt they needed more input with the new budget maker.

Neither DeLozier nor Helm interviewed or met last year’s budgetmaker. Yadon & Putnam was hired on the recommendation of Thacker who was last year’s Board Chairman.

In other county business commissioners: