When the St. Landry Parish School Board meets Thursday, it will vote to accept its audit for the year ending June 30, 2017.
The task shouldn’t prove difficult.
Auditor Casey Ardoin, of Kolder, Champagne, Slaven and Company, said, “The School Board had a really good year financially. I think everybody involved in operations was doing a good job. It all went very well this year.”
One of the best ways to look at the financial health is the unassigned fund balance, he said. The State Department of Education says anything above 7.5 percent unassigned General Fund balance is excellent financially, he said.
As of June 30, 2017, the St. Landry Parish School Board’s unassigned balance in the General Fund was $9.5 million, which was about 8 percent of the General Fund.
Donnie Perron, a School Board member from Port Barre asked, “So, overall you would categorize our system financially as?”
Ardoin replied, “Doing well and moving in the right direction.”
Later in the committee meeting, Tressa Miller, finance director, was asked about what the school system pays in mileage.
It’s 36 cent a mile, but Miller added, “I would be cautious before we start spending more money.”
Miller said the school system received $9.3 million in property tax on Jan. 19.
The current budget projects a loss of $1.6 million, she said. But the property tax payments through February should present a clearer picture of the school system’s finances, she said.
In the audit as of June 30, 2017, general fund revenues were $119.8 million; total revenues were $143.7 million, general fund expenses were $117.4 million; and total expenses were $145 million.
The general fund balance began the year at $17 million and ended with a $19.5 million balance.
The beginning total balance for all funds, General, Title I, Capital Projects and Nonmajor Governmental, was $25.5 million and ended at $27.2 million.
The audit also reports School Board members were paid $9,600.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins who went on the payroll in November 2017, was paid $93,850 in salary. His predecessor, Edward Brown, was paid $42,412 in salary.
There were five finding in the audit. Corrective action was taken in each finding.
They are:
— The School Board is not providing proper oversight over the school activity and cafeteria accounts. School administrators have been informed of the proper procedures. The finding is carried over from the previous year’s audit.
— In October 2016, a break-in occurred at a school and four iPods with a value of $916 were stolen. The Legislative Auditor, Grand Coteau Police and district attorney were notified. Security controls were evaluated. The iPods were not recovered.
— On Sept. 16, 2016, a printer valued at $199 was stolen after being delivered to Eunice High School. The Legislative Auditor, Eunice Police and district attorney were notified. Security controls were evaluated. The printer has not been recovered.
— On May 2, 2017, a classroom was broken into at an elementary school and an iPad and iPad Mini were stolen. An investigation was conducted the stolen items were returned to the school. The Legislative Auditor, Grand Coteau Police and district attorney were notified.
— In June 2017, the School Board determined that a HP tablet valued at $526 was missing from food services. An internal investigation was unable to determine what happened or if it was stolen. The Legislative Auditor, Opelousas Police and district attorney were notified.
