Auditor flags finance and procurement findings; board disputes bid-law conclusions

Calder, the external auditor, told the Lafayette Parish School Board on the afternoon of the audit workshop that the district closed fiscal 2024 in good financial shape but had several audit findings that require management attention.

The auditor said parish-source revenues rose year over year, led by ad valorem taxes (about $92.6 million) and a modest increase in sales taxes, and that state sources totaled about $164 million. Total general-fund revenues were roughly $367 million and total general-fund expenditures came in near $323 million, leaving an excess of revenues over expenditures of about $43.9 million and an ending fund balance the auditor reported as $83.6 million. On those results, the auditor said the district met its board stabilization policy (75-day requirement).

"This year, 32,500,000, or 10% of your general fund expenditures are spent on charter schools," Calder said, noting the appropriation to charter schools has risen steadily from roughly $15.9 million in 2021 to $32.5 million in 2024 and that the increase affects the share of the general fund available for personnel and related benefits.

Calder summarized the self-insurance fund results, reporting charges for services increased to about $69.9 million, operating expenditures rose to about…