ORLANDO, Fla. — What was believed to be a meeting behind closed doors turned into a public debate between Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond and Elections Supervisor Glen Gilzean on Monday.

It's the first time Diamond and Gilzean have met since Orange County leaders accused Gilzean of misusing leftover funds from his office's budget.

Last week, Gilzean filed a lawsuit after commissioners voted to shut off funding to his office and the Orange County Comptroller's Office began auditing Gilzean's spending.

"We're going to stay right here with the public so everyone can hear," said Gilzean after abruptly walking out of his closed-door meeting with Diamond.

In a back-and-forth between the two, Diamond asked why the Supervisors of Elections Office had more than $4 million in its bank account a few days ago, but now, according to Gilzean, can't pay their employees.

"You're putting our office in peril," Gilzean said. "I just want you to release the funds so our employees can get paid this holiday season."

“Glen, you had $4 million just a few days ago," Diamond responded. "What happened to the money? What did you do with it?”

"Ugh, here we go, so those are the checks that were owed to vendors," Gilzean said.

Gilzean said Diamond didn't account for the ongoing bills, and that his office has $4.5 million worth of bills.

"I'm telling you, the (Orange County) Sheriff's Office is one. ENSS, which is the software we use for our equipment, their invoice came in right after his Nov. 30 deadline," Gilzean said. "If he doesn't release our funds we're in dire straits, that's why I'm here."

In a press release after the public meeting, Diamond’s office stated Gilzean wrote 224 checks totaling almost $4.3 million over the weekend, “draining his bank account.”

“Sadly, he irresponsibly chose not to prioritize his employees,” the statement went on to say.

Diamond said people have a right to know what is happening with their tax dollars and that the county comptroller is continuing to review all financial records.